Royal Mint releases 'Year of the Sheep' coins

Royal Mint releases 'Year of the Sheep' coins

UK's Royal Mint is looking to combine the two, into a work of art. Earlier this year, the UK's Royal Mint struck its first set of coins to feature animals from the Chinese Lunar Calendar. As the year of the horse winds down, the Royal Mint is now gearing up for the 2015 Shengxiao Collection. The next animal to be minted will be the sheep. The historic institution revealed its new coin designs ahead of its official launch on Monday.

Known as the Shengxiao or Chinese zodiac Collection, The Royal Mint's Lunar coin series reflects the Shengxiao tradition, linking each year to one of 12 animals, with the animal traits attributed to those born in a given Lunar year.

Celebrated in Chinese communities all around the world, the holiday brings together families who exchange gifts, usually money in red envelopes, symbolising good wishes for the recipient's health, wealth and prosperity.

"The whole starting principle is obviously the gifting, the culture within the lunar coins. That's our starting point... " said Fergus Feeney, Programme Director, The Royal Mint.

British Chinese artist and printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho, who designed the 2014 Year of the Horse coin for The Royal Mint, continues the collection with a design that once again combines both British and Chinese heritage.

"The breed of the sheep is the Swaedale sheep, which is the national sheep of Yorkshire. So that's very British... " said Wuon-Gean Ho, Designer.

Unlike the Lunar coins of other mints, these coins are official UK coins and are available in various alloys and denominations to suit most budgets.

Just as the first coin had hidden meaning, the second coin in this auspicious series reveals elements that will intrigue their recipient, as the characteristics of the freedom-loving sheep, with its passion for company, are brought to life in the artful reverse designs.