2021 ZODIAC medals from Japan Mint

Japan mint announced this week  3 new medals that will be trade at the very beginning of year 2021.

In many countries, especially Japan and other Asian countries, the twelve animal signs of the Oriental zodiac are applied to aspects of life such as years, months, days, directions, and times. The Japan Mint releases a pure gold medal representing a zodiac sign every year, and the medal for the year 2021 features the year’s sign, the ox.

Oriental Zodiac pure gold medal – The Ox (95g)

On the obverse, an ox, the zodiac sign for the year 2021, is depicted in relief. On the reverse, a part of the coin’s surface has been given a mirrorlike finish to emphasize the luster of gold, while special  techniques have been used to add the Japanese character meaning “ox” as a holographic latent image.

Obverse of the medal

Reverse of the medal

Holographic Latent Image Technology has been implemented in collaboration with the Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology.

Composition: Pure gold (99.9%) with Japan Mint Hallmark
Weight: Approx. 95g
Diameter: 40mm

Scheduled Sales Quantity (Maximum Overseas Allocation): 400 coins (5 pieces)

Oriental Zodiac pure gold dodecagon medal – The Ox (20g)

An ox, the zodiac sign for the year 2021, is depicted in relief, surrounded by twelve letters representing the twelve years of the Oriental zodiac (Shin-koku-ho).

The frosting finish processing technique has been used.

Obverse of the medal

Reverse of the medal

Composition: Pure gold (99.9%) with Hallmark
Weight: Approx. 20g
Diameter: 30mm
Packaging: A special box of paulownia wood
Scheduled Sales Quantity (Maximum Overseas Allocation): 1,400 coins (10 coins)

Oriental Zodiac pure gold dodecagon medal – The Ox (7.8g)

An ox, the zodiac sign for the year 2021, is depicted in relief on the obverse. On the reverse is depicted the silhouette of an ox, using iridescent color shining technology.

Obverse of the medal

Reverse of the medal

Composition: Pure gold (99.9%) with Hallmark*1
Weight: Approx. 7.8g
Diameter: 20mm
Scheduled Sales Quantity (Maximum Overseas Allocation): 1,700 coins (5 coins)

Sources: Japan Mint and NUMISMAG.