CIT debuts ‘Thunder Dragon’, a stunning clash of Samurai and mythical beast that has to be a contender for the years best!

We’re taking a more relaxed tack with our World Money Fair coverage this year, and while we usually try to lump the whole of a seasonal release, in this case CIT’s Winter Launch, into just a couple of articles, we’ll be a little more sedate through 2026. This is one of the finest launch selections that CIT have ever put together, in my opinion, and this particular coin is going to be many people’s star offering.

Struck in three ounces of fine silver, Thunder Dragon dives deeply into the Asian love affair with this greatest of mythical creatures. Here, there’s a leaning towards a Japanese interpretation, with the human figure being a samurai warrior, holding an unsheathed Katana, the legendary curved sword. Behind him, and facing the dais he stands upon, is a dragon, which I can only describe as an absolute tour de force of numismatic art. Seriously, the way the beast sinews its way from the background to foreground is breathtaking, and the gaze is a masterclass in focus. It all sits inside the concave strike, ably realised by the ever-evolving smartminting techniques developed by CIT and BH Mayer. The colouring is restrained, beautifully graduated, and expertly applied.

By contrast, the obverse is deadly dull, and clearly not a priority for this coin. Perfectly understandable, as every gram of metal has gone to creating that extraordinary relief on the reverse face. The coin comes presented in one of CIT’s usual latex-skinned display frames, with a themed insert. Just 499 of these will be struck, and I’m willing to bet there are five times as many dealer orders for it! A triumph of the numismatic art, and exactly the kind of thing this site was born to showcase. More please.