Gold Lunar Sheep 1oz – Proof (boxed)

Lunar Sheep Gold coin

This is a gold bullion coin issued by The Royal Mint. Coins will be packed loose for small orders and may come in Ryal Mint tubes of ten for larger orders. If you wish to protect your coins individually, we sell coin capsules which fit perfectly. The coins are minted in 999.9 purity gold and contain 1oz of precious metals. The Lunar Sheep gold coin, issued in 2015 is the second of the 12-coin Lunar Shēngxiào Collection. Each coin, designed by British Chinese artist Wuon-Gean Ho, represents an animal from the Chinese Lunar calender.

Gold Lunar Sheep Design

The Lunar Sheep obverse features the familiar 4th portrait of Elizabeth II, by renowned designer Ian Rank-Broadley, and the inscription ELIZABETH·II·D·G REG·FID·DEF·100·POUNDS·

The reverse of the coin features a close up design of the sheep and a smaller sheep, with wording Year of the sheep’, the year of issue, and confirmation of the coin weight and purity around the outside. The actual animal design embraces both the Chinese and British culture by basing the motif on the Swaledale Sheep which are often found on the hillsides of the Peak District. Interestingly, the Perth Mint simultaneously produce a lunar series of coins, with their equivalent to the sheep featuring a goat instead. Both animals are recognised as the 8th creature in the 12-part lunar series.

The Lunar sheep coin follows the inaugeral lunar coin featuring the Lunar Horse and has since been followed by the Year of the Monkey in 2016 and the Year of the Rooster in 2017. The entire series is also produced in fine silver for those wishing to build a mixed portfolio of precious metals.

Our Expert Opinion

The Lunar series of coins has been extremely well received by investors and collectors alike. The annually updated coins have sold out quickly with each issue limited to 8,888 pieces, with demand building for previous years as supply runs out.  Demand is heightened by the coin being part of a collection and the Royal Mint’s decision to issue the coin in 24 carat gold, as opposed to the Sovereign coin’s 22 carat alloy mix, appeals to the Asian market who will only buy ‘pure gold’. The crossover between British and Chinese cultures, combined with the Royal Mint’s heritage, acts to maximise the coin’s appeal.

With a face value of £100, the coin is both VAT exempt and Capital Gains Tax free, due to its classification as legal tender. This enhances its appeal as an investment coin, where gold investors seek tax free gold options. Coins do cost more to purchase than the cheaper mass-produced Britannia coins, but values may also rise quicker due to scarcity and universal appeal.