UNITED STATES October 26 2016 6:02 PM

NEW YORK (Scrap Register): The Royal Mint’s lunar bullion launch has become an eagerly anticipated event on the worldwide bullion calendar, particularly after the sell-out success to wholesalers of its gold and silver Lunar Year of the Monkey bullion coins for 2016. The Royal Mint’s ‘rooster’ is the latest in the 1,100 year-old organisation’s popular series to hit the competitive lunar bullion market. 

“The coin has already sold to full mintage in silver through The Royal Mint’s wholesale trading activities, and gold is already 50% sold – before the official launch date,” said the Royal Mint’s Director of Bullion, Chris Howard.

This is only the fourth release in The Royal Mint’s lunar series, which started with the 2014 Year of the Horse followed by lunar sheep and monkey years in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

The Royal Mint’s Lunar Sh?ngxiào Collection, named to honour the Chinese zodiac, is a celebration of the UK’s diverse multi-cultural society, and lends a unique British angle to this ancient custom. Each lunar year is linked to one of 12 animals, whose traits are attributed to those born during that year. 

Celebrated annually – Year of the Rooster starts on 28 January 2017 - it is traditionally a time for exchanging tokens and gifts of money in red envelopes, symbolising good wishes for the recipient’s health, wealth and prosperity. 

British-Chinese artist and printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho, designer of The Royal Mint’s lunar collection, continues the striking series with the rooster. 

The rooster is the tenth sign in the Chinese zodiac, so it may be no coincidence that number ten represents perfection in Chinese culture - people born in the Year of the Rooster are believed to be confident characters who love to stand out from the crowd. Said to spend a great deal of time perfecting their appearance, they like to be thought of as attractive and beautiful, and are often very fashion conscious, relishing any opportunity to show off their style and charm. They are loyal and devoted friends and natural leaders in the workplace.

The Royal Mint’s lunar bullion coins are struck as limited mintage one-ounce 999.9 fine gold coins, and one-ounce 999 fine silver coins, and are available to buy in tubes of 10 or 25 coins, dependent on the metal purchased.