2025: Year of the Snake

Happy Lunar New Year! 

The start of the new Chinese calendar, often referred to as Lunar New Year begins on January 29 and ends on February 8. The annual holiday is most popularly celebrated throughout East and South Asia, including China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. It is also a popular holiday in countries with large East and South Asian diasporas, such as Australia, Canada, the Philippines, the U.K., and the United States.

No matter where they are, those ushering in the new year will celebrate by lighting lanterns and firecrackers, spending time with loved ones, and eating delicious foods like dumplings, longevity noodles, and sweet rice balls. Celebrants will also be honoring this over the  3,500-year-old holiday with what is perhaps every bank note collector’s favorite thing: money.

Shoppers this year will likely see a snake on lucky money envelopes. Although many find the reptile terrifying, this snake isn’t meant to frighten; instead, it is this year’s zodiac animal.

The snake is the sixth of the twelve zodiacs, and its years are 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025. According to Jennifer Bushland in the February 2025 World Coin News article, “Year of the Wood Snake,” Snakes can be described as “mysterious and wise. They are known to be even-tempered, keep their composure during intense situations, and have many interests and hobbies. They are especially inclined to pursue artistic endeavors. They are full of inspiration and hold a strong intuition. Because of their strong goal orientation, Snakes do not always appear to be passionate, often coming across as cold and selfish, which inspires distrust from others. They struggle with vulnerability and will detach from people to protect themselves.” 

There are two ways currency plays a role in Lunar New Year traditions. The first is one that many, including those who’ve never celebrated the holiday, will recognize: envelopes. Perhaps one of the holiday’s oldest traditions, these envelopes are hand-sized with an easy-to-open flap at the top. Inside are usually crisp bills, never the crumpled kind from your pocket, and they are traditionally given to children. Yet, it is not unusual for older friends and family to receive some lucky money. Even digital versions of lucky money envelopes are given during the holiday by those who cannot reach their friends and family in person.

If following Chinese custom, these envelopes are referred to in Mandarin as “hóngbāo” and are typically colored red, representing prosperity and good luck in Chinese culture. Lucky money in Vietnam is also red and called “lì xì,” while Korean culture prefers their “bokjumeoni” envelopes in white, as they are associated with purity and temperance.

It is not unusual to see a design on lucky money envelopes. Many companies and designers will decorate the face of the envelope with script, lanterns, cherry blossoms, or cute animals. Such an example is currently available for sale at the United States Mint with the $2 “Lucky Panda” note. Although operating more like a card than an envelope, this red and gold foil folio features an illustration of two pandas surrounded by what makes these animals happiest: bamboo. Inside is the same illustration as the cover, a decorative fan also depicting two pandas, a Mandarin script, and an uncirculated Series 2003A $2 Federal Reserve note with a serial number beginning with “888.”

The Singapore Mint celebrates the “Year of the Snake” by adding a silver foiled snake to their 10 red hóngbāo set. The snake appears on the front and back, coiled upwards with its forked tongue flickering as decorative linework fills the background. On the front, it sits near a bowl of fruit; however, on the back of the envelope, the snake has its tail wrapped around it.

The Mint is also selling a festive pack that includes an exclusively designed folder celebrating the “Year of the Snake.” The Treasure Cove Festive pack includes a 24-karat gold-plated medallion and a Singapore $2 bank note placed inside an envelope featuring an illustration of two green snakes within a colorful scene of flowers, gold, and clouds on the front.

Aside from its hóngbāo offerings, the Singapore Mint offers a box set of a snake-themed medallion and commemorative gold-foil note. The note, made from 24-karat gold foil, pays homage to the snake with a subtle design. The back of the note is inscribed, “Wishing You A Prosperous Year” in English. 

Circulating and commemorative bank notes are another way mints and private companies celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Some may remember the 2013 pink-colored 10 patacas Macau note from Banco Nacional Ultramarino, which featured a friendly-appearing snake and flower details. Although the small Chinese administrative region has not created a note for 2025, the People’s Bank of China has released a commemorative 20-yuan bank note with similar vibes.

Like the Macau note, this polymer 20 yuan is pink, and the featured snake is far from vicious. The front shows a red serpent with green and black clouds and floral details on its body, holding greenery in its mouth. The back showcases three children preparing for the festival in what appears to be the Shanxi province. Including children may now be a tradition for Chinese zodiac bank notes, as the 2024 “Year of the Dragon” 20 yuan design includes three kiddos performing the dragon dance. 

The Merrick Mint, a private U.S. company, offers a wide selection of options to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Customers can purchase a signature red envelope with holiday-themed red and gold lettering and design. The envelope comes with a commemorative $2 bill colorized with red and gold holographic filigree and snake details and a serial number that begins with “00.”

Designed similarly to the U.S. Mint’s “Lucky Panda” note, the Merrick Mint also offers a card-like envelope that honors the lunar new year. The product includes the same colorized $2 note placed within a red folio decorated with gold lettering inside and out. The interior features a certificate of authenticity with text and visuals describing the Lunar New Year and the Snake zodiac, alongside an inclusion of Mandarin script.

If red isn’t your color, a blue folio is also available for purchase. Although much smaller, the folio includes the colorized $2 note and a certificate of authenticity with the same details and descriptions as the large red folio. 

China’s neighbor to the north, Mongolia, is offering a “Year of the Snake” bank note through CIT. This commemorative proof-like issue is a 100 tögrög colored in silver, green, gold, and lavender. The central design on the front is a snake coiled towards the viewers with a decorative background of cherry blossoms and graphic symbols behind it. The back of the note features the Bank of Mongolia logo with a decorative filigree and script behind it.

The online retailer APMEX offers a commemorative gold foil note honoring the “Year of the Snake.” Made from 100 milligrams of .999 fine gold, the reddish-tinted note features a green tree pit viper that appears ready to strike from a branch. It sits amongst decorative shapes of lanterns and orchids that decorate the note.

For those wanting to secure their Lunar New Year bank notes, PMG has a “Year of the Snake” label for sale. The theme is noted through a small red snake design at the upper right, and the label is available for all snake and 2025 notes.

Interested in learning the value of your Lunar New Year bank note or coin? Visit the NumisMaster database to learn more. 

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