Proof Silver Coin for the Year of the Ox

999 silver, with the ox gilded in 999.9 gold.

38 millimeters

1 ounce

2 Dollars (Tuvalu Currency)

50,000 pieces

Apples from a painting by Ko-chi Chang symbolize a wish for peace and joy, while the color of the fruit provides an enhanced feeling of depth and color saturation. Above these elements appears a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Within the inner polygon, the golden ox that welcomes in the new year is modeled on Taiwan's native yellow ox, a powerful yet gentle-tempered animal that steadily bears a heavy workload all its life without complaint. Thanks to these qualities, the yellow ox has come to symbolize the spirit and values of traditional Taiwanese culture. Moreover, the Chinese word for ox, pronunced niu, is a near homophone of the Chinese word referring to a "turnaround," and the Lunar New Year is a time when one and all look forward with hope and optimism to a turn for the better on all fronts. The 12-sided polygon in the center of the coin is a clear allusion to the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac as well as the 12 months in a year, while the ears of rice along the edge are a symbol of agricultural plenty. At the same time, the coin's special matte finish provides a subtly subdued gloss that highlights the lustrous beauty of the design elements.

The Bank of Taiwan has commissioned the Central Mint to make a "Proof Silver Coin for the Year of the Ox." The coin features colored gold plating and a 12-sided inner polygon design. The viewer's attention is naturally drawn to the coin's main theme—a gold-plated ox that appears inside the polygon. The obverse side of the beautifully crafted coin is graced by red apples along with a gold-plated ox that alludes to the zodiac animal for the year 2021. This limited-issue coin is denominated in Tuvalu currency.