Feb. 10, 2024, or year 4722 in the Chinese Lunar year, starts the Year of the Dragon, otherwise referred to as the Wood Dragon. The dragon is the fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac 12-year animal cycle. The dragon is unique from the other zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar because it is the only mythical creature in the cycle. It is believed that the dragon is a symbol of strength and great power, which is why Chinese emperors were thought to be descendants of dragons. In Chinese culture, dragons are said to have control over great phenomena of water, such as rainfalls, floods, and typhoons.
In Chinese mythology, there are different colored dragons: black, blue, green, red, yellow, and white, which are said to manifest your goals. The various colored dragons correlate to their symbolism. When you think of black, you think of catastrophes, which is no surprise that the Black Dragon is associated with vengeance. The Blue Dragon represents harmony and peace; the Green Dragon brings new life and nature, while the Red Dragon is said to bring good luck and fortune. The Yellow (Gold) Dragon brings wealth and social standing, and finally, the White Dragon symbolizes purity. However, to some, the White Dragon is seen as a bad omen and relates to death and mourning.
Along with colored dragons, there are nine types of dragons, of which each is related to a natural element, ruler, or dynasty. The celestial dragon is the guardian of the mansions of gods. The coiling dragon is a water or river dragon and has similarities to a crocodile. The homeless dragon resides in mountains or oceans, while the spiritual dragon is beneficial to man with the wind and rain it brings. Dragon king is composed of separate dragons that are said to rule over the four seas of the north, south, east, and west. The yellow dragon is believed to control seasons, and the dragon of hidden treasures is a protector of hidden wealth. The winged dragon is the oldest of them all and is said to have served the emperor Huang Di, who is believed to have turned into the Yellow Dragon and ascended to Heaven. Lastly, there is the horned dragon. This dragon is the most powerful and has control over the rain.
As you view the coins minted for this year’s Lunar Year, you can see the various ways mints have selected the combinations of color and type of dragon in many metals and denominations. Whether it is following their traditional Lunar coin series or creating something entirely different, these coins are a sight to see.
Wood Dragon
If you believe in the Chinese horoscope, it states that the 2024 Wood Dragon, nourished with the wood element, will bring abundance, evolution, and improvements. This is the year to set the foundation for long-lasting success and revitalize beginnings. People born under the dragon are thought to be confident, charismatic, intelligent, and just gifted and lucky by nature. If you were born under the Dragon zodiac, you share this sign with many famous people, such as Joan of Arc, Julius Caesar, Bruce Lee, Ringo Starr, and Abraham Lincoln.
The common reverse for Australia’s Lunar Series III Year of the Dragon Au coins is a horned dragon that appears to be running with motifs of waves and fog. There is also a P125 mint mark on each coin, representing Perth Mint’s 125th anniversary. Perth Mint
The reverse of the Ag coin is a horned dragon with stylized waves and water flowing from its mouth. You will also notice there is a flaming pearl, or Dragon Pearl, which is a symbol of wisdom. These coins also have the P125 mintmark. Unlike the Au coins, the Ag coins have colored and gilded reverses. Perth Mint
Canada - Royal Canadian Mint
There are a couple of different dragon designs on the Canadian coins. Some have whimsical looks as they appear to walk across the coin or coiled-up body, staring straight at you, clutching or chasing the Dragon Pearl. The use of auspicious motifs in each of the coins is also visible. The 8-dollar Ag coin shows a plum blossom branch, which symbolizes resilience, vitality, and courage, while the 250-dollar Ag and the 2500-dollar Au coins use cherry blossoms and clouds. The 15-dollar Ag coin uses the lucky number seven with heart-shaped scales along the body of the dragon. Royal Canadian Mint
Bhutan, Macau, Singapore
Singapore’s Chinese Almanac Coin series portrays a dragon with a view of the Gardens by the Bay in the background. The Dragon series comes in ten different coins, with metals in nickel-plated zinc, Ag, and Au. Shapes consist of round, scalloped, octagonal, and rectangular with various colored denominations. Singapore Mint
The Singapore Mint’s lunar coins for Bhutan, Macau, and Singapore are their annual coins for each country. Bhutan’s Lunar and Attraction series is the ninth of its series and features a dragon adorned with Bhutan’s nature. Singapore Mint
The fourth lunar coin in Macau’s Lunar Coin series has a dragon with inspired patterns from Portuguese culture in a teal color with lotuses, and the text is positioned in the shape of the Map of the Macau Peninsula. Both the silver and gold coins are colored. Singapore Mint
France - Monnaie de Paris
Monnaie de Paris’s common reverse design for their Lunar Year coins is a horned, coiled dragon that appears to be going through a door, which is located on the obverse of the coin. Surrounding the dragon are Chinese motives of the other zodiac signs on the Chinese calendar. The obverse features a door in the center of a web of years with the corresponding zodiac animal. Monnaie de Paris
China - China Gold
China released 12 coins in Au, Ag, and Pt for their Year of the Dragon. All coins depict dragons in various poses with auspicious patterns in the background. You can see there are various types of dragons on the coins, along with different colors. They did keep in tradition with some coins being scalloped. However, it does not appear they have the fan-shaped coins this year. China Gold
Great Britain - British Royal Mint
The Royal Mint designed a coiled, horned dragon that appears to be flying toward you with water and flora below as their design. Coins are available in Cupro-Nickel, Ag, and Au. These coins are also the first Lunar coins minted with King Charles III’s portrait from the mint. British Royal Mint
Ghana - Mint XXI
The front profile of a dragon with its teeth showing and a green crystal insert by Mint XXI is Ghana’s Year of the Dragon Ag coin. Mint XXI
Fiji, Vanuatu, Burundi, Djibouti MDM
Fiji’s Year of the Dragon coin, from MDM, is Ag in the shape of a figure 8. On the obverse of the coin are various cloud designs, while the back has dragons in various poses. MDM
MDM produced a Year of the Dragon coin for Vanuatu, which is Ag with selective gilding and a red pearl inlay. The dragon is horned, with a long, scaled body and what appears to be the face of a man. The obverse of the coin has all 12 of the zodiac signs in a circle around the rim. MDM
Burundi’s horned dragon and mountains in the background, with a 24k gold Privy Mark and Hologram effect on the reverse side of the coin, is from MDM as well. MDM
Djibouti
A high-relief egg-shaped coin with the design of a baby dragon coming out of an egg is the design for the reverse of the coin. The obverse shows a grown dragon blowing smoke out of its mouth with waves and water below. Djibouti
Niue - Lithuanian Mint, New Zealand Mint
Lithuanian Mint continued with their water Lunar series with this year’s dragon coins, the Water Dragon. Using the dot effect, the image is that of the Eastern Dragon, otherwise known as the Oriental Dragon. The coins are available in Ag and Au, with slight variations to each denomination. Lithuania Mint
New Zealand Mint used a striking color and mirror finish for their Ag coin. The dragon looks as if it is about to jump out at you with its long, coiled body and face of a man. For their Au coin, the dragon’s body is wrapped around the rim of the coin, with its head in the center. New Zealand Mint
Mongolia - CIT
The Au coin has the dragon design below in the center of the coin. CIT
Great Dragon from Liechtenstein’s Coin Invest Trust features a dragon-shaped coin, sitting, grasping a pearl. As done in the past, the coin is minted in Ag and Gilded. The Au coin has the same design in the center of the coin. CIT
Cameroon
The rectangular pendant coin shows a dragon appearing to walk on a scaled surface with a Chinese symbol near its tail. The reverse of the ruthenium coin shows two dragons, one gilded, appearing to fly above trees in a circular motion. Cameroon
Cameroon has a unique-looking coin antique finish coin, with a dragon appearing to be rising from its coiled position, mouth open, looking up towards the sky. It is surrounded by Chinese motifs and a pearl above its head. Cameroon
Tuvalu - Perth Mint
Keeping with its norm, Perth Mint once again went with a baby design for its 50-cent coin. The coin features a baby dragon, in color, with a banner wrapped around it. They also continued their Chinese Astrological Series with a dragon in various poses and a different Chinese symbol on each coin, “prosperity, longevity and success.” Perth Mint
