SINGAPORE: A new commemorative coin series marking the 2026 Year of the Horse has been unveiled, with designs featuring Punggol Waterway Park as the central backdrop. The coins, part of an ongoing almanac programme, can be pre-ordered from Tuesday, Nov 18, and will go on public sale from Jan 1, 2026.

The 2026 release is the tenth issue in a multi-year Chinese almanac series and continues an annual tradition of pairing each zodiac animal with a distinctive park or natural landscape. The latest issue highlights the horse set against the scenery of Punggol Waterway Park, with the front of every coin bearing the national coat of arms and the year 2026.

Tenth Issue in Ongoing Almanac Series

The almanac coin series began in 2017 and is designed to run until 2028, with one new release each year. Each year’s coin showcases a different animal from the Chinese zodiac cycle, positioned within a recognisable Singapore park or nature setting.

The 2026 Year of the Horse issue extends this concept with a design that places the horse in a landscaped environment symbolic of Singapore’s urban transformation. The series has reached its tenth instalment with this release, with three more annual issues planned through to 2028.

The coins are legal tender at their stated face values, underscoring their status as official currency despite their primary appeal to collectors and enthusiasts. While the series has a strong numismatic focus, the coins can be used within the monetary system at their face value if deposited with banks or the issuing authority.

Punggol Waterway Park as Design Centrepiece

The new coin’s reverse side features a horse set against Punggol Waterway Park, a recreation space located along the North Eastern Riverine Loop. The park spans more than 25 hectares and serves as a prominent element in Punggol Town’s broader transformation into a modern waterfront district.

By situating the zodiac animal within this locale, the 2026 coin ties the traditional lunar calendar theme to contemporary urban and environmental development. The design reflects landscaped water features, promenades and greenery that define the park’s role in the surrounding town’s evolution into a 21st-century waterfront community.

The choice of Punggol Waterway Park also continues the series’ pattern of using well-known public spaces to frame each zodiac animal. This approach integrates cultural motifs with recognisable national landmarks and landscapes, giving each year’s issue a distinct sense of place.

Multiple Coin Variations and Specifications

The 2026 Year of the Horse release will be available in 10 distinct variations. These differ in face value, shape, metallic composition and minting relief techniques, offering a broad range of options for both seasoned collectors and newer buyers.

The variants include coins made from precious metals such as fine silver and fine gold, as well as other metallic compositions. The range covers different sizes and finishes, from larger proof coins to smaller proof-like pieces, each bearing the same thematic artwork centred on the horse and Punggol Waterway Park.

Among the offerings is a rectangular fine silver coin with a face value of S$80, which combines a non-traditional shape with a higher face denomination. Another key option is a round fine gold coin with a face value of S$200, targeting buyers who prefer gold issues within commemorative programmes.

The coins employ varying minting relief effects to accentuate details of the design. Higher-relief strikes and different surface treatments are used to highlight aspects such as the horse’s form, the waterway, and elements of the surrounding landscape, enhancing depth and visual impact across the range.

Premium Sets for Collectors

In addition to individual coins, the programme includes four special premium sets that package selected variants in combined presentations. These curated sets are structured to appeal to buyers who prefer a more comprehensive or high-end collection tied to a single zodiac year.

One premium option is a silver three-coin set, which groups several silver issues into a coordinated ensemble. Another notable package is a gold and silver three-coin set, combining precious metals for buyers seeking a mix of gold and silver within the same thematic release.

The premium sets are positioned as limited, more elaborate offerings relative to the standalone coins. Each set brings together coins with complementary specifications and finishes, allowing collectors to obtain multiple key variants in a single purchase rather than ordering each separately.

These sets often highlight the higher-face-value or more visually intricate issues from the series, giving them particular prominence in the overall product line-up for the Year of the Horse.

Legal Tender and Redemption Conditions

All the coins in the 2026 Year of the Horse series are legal tender at their face values. This status means that, beyond their collectable value, they can be deposited with banks or the issuing authority and redeemed at the amount stated on each coin.

However, buyers are explicitly reminded that there is no assurance the coins will appreciate in value over time. There is also no guarantee that the coins can be resold at or above their original purchase price on the secondary market.

This clarification underscores the primary nature of the coins as commemorative and numismatic items rather than investment products. While they are backed by their face value in the formal monetary system, any additional market premium is subject to collector demand and market conditions, which may change over time.

The redemption framework provides a baseline of monetary value while clearly separating that from any speculative expectations regarding future price movements.

Pre-Order Timeline and Purchase Channels

Pre-orders for the 2026 Year of the Horse Almanac Coin Series open on Tuesday, Nov 18. Prospective buyers have just under a month to place their orders before the pre-order window closes on Dec 14.

Orders can be submitted through online channels or by contacting the appointed mint directly by phone. Both individual coins and premium sets are available through these channels during the pre-order period, subject to availability.

Once pre-orders have been collated and processed, the coins will be released for public purchase from Jan 1, 2026. From that date, members of the public will be able to acquire the coins through designated sales platforms, provided that stocks are still available after fulfilling pre-order commitments.

The timeline ensures that collectors and interested buyers have a defined ordering window ahead of the official release date, particularly for higher-demand items or limited sets that may not remain on sale for an extended period.

Allocation by Ballot if Oversubscribed

In the event that demand for the 2026 series exceeds the available supply, coin allocation will not follow a simple first-come, first-served approach. Instead, if the coins are oversubscribed, they will be allocated by ballot.

Under this system, applications received within the pre-order period are entered into a selection process when total orders surpass the quantity available. Successful applicants are then allocated coins based on the outcome of the ballot, while unsuccessful applicants do not receive their requested items.

This approach is intended to manage high demand in a structured and transparent manner, particularly for limited-quantity coins and premium sets. It also encourages prospective buyers to submit their orders within the pre-order period rather than attempting to rush purchases at the start of sales.

Those who are not allocated coins through the ballot mechanism will not be able to secure them through the oversubscribed pre-order tranche, though some may still attempt to obtain available pieces when public sales begin, depending on remaining inventory.

Integration of Zodiac Theme and Local Landscapes

The Year of the Horse issue continues a consistent design philosophy linking each zodiac animal to a specific park or nature site. Since the series launch in 2017, this approach has created an evolving visual catalogue of animals paired with different parts of Singapore’s built and natural environment.

By tying the 2026 design to Punggol Waterway Park, the programme maintains this trajectory of highlighting both cultural symbolism and local landmarks. Each annual coin thus serves as both a zodiac-themed item and a visual representation of a specific landscape.

This integration also provides thematic continuity for collectors who have followed the series from earlier issues. The 2026 coin can be viewed as part of a broader progression that, once the series concludes in 2028, will cover the full cycle of animals against a curated selection of parks and green spaces.

The consistent layout—zodiac animal on one side, national emblems and date on the other—helps maintain recognisable identity across all years while allowing each issue to stand out through its chosen setting and design treatment.

Visual and Technical Features Across the Range

The use of different metals, shapes and relief effects is central to the character of the 2026 series. Precious-metal issues such as fine gold and silver are complemented by coins in other compositions, catering to varying price points and preferences.

Proof and proof-like finishes enhance the detail of the coin artwork. In higher-grade issues, polished fields contrast with frosted design elements, making features like the horse, the waterway, and architectural or landscaping details more prominent.

Larger-format coins, including heavier silver and gold pieces, offer greater surface area for intricate design, which is evident in the depiction of Punggol Waterway Park’s expanses and pathways. Smaller denominations still retain the core design, but with adjustments to preserve clarity and legibility at reduced sizes.

The rectangular fine silver coin, in particular, provides a distinctive presentation compared to the more traditional circular formats, giving collectors a visually different option within the same thematic release.

Role of Punggol Waterway Park in Urban Transformation Theme

Punggol Waterway Park’s inclusion in the 2026 design underscores its position as a showcase for waterfront living and recreation. Located along the North Eastern Riverine Loop, the park stretches across more than 25 hectares and is a key element in the transformation of Punggol Town into a modern waterfront community.

The park integrates water features, green corridors and cycling routes, functioning as both a recreational destination and a connective space within the town. Its presence on the coin aligns the Year of the Horse with contemporary urban planning themes, including waterfront revitalisation and integrated public spaces.

In the broader series context, selecting this park reinforces the emphasis on spaces that illustrate evolving approaches to city-making and environmental design. The coin imagery captures elements that symbolise this transformation, embedding them in a format intended to circulate among collectors and the general public.

By featuring Punggol Waterway Park, the 2026 coin indirectly showcases a milestone in the development of a new-generation town anchored by waterway and parkland features.

Ongoing Series and Future Issues

The 2026 Year of the Horse release is one instalment in a defined sequence of almanac coins slated to continue through 2028. Since its inception in 2017, the series has introduced one coin annually, each linked to the corresponding Chinese zodiac animal and a local landscape.

With the horse represented in 2026, the remaining years will complete the cycle through the final issues, each expected to follow the same overarching structure of combining zodiac symbolism, parks or natural sites, and formal national emblems.

Collectors who have followed the series since its beginning are able to build a multi-year set that reflects both the zodiac calendar and a curated selection of parks. New collectors can join at the Year of the Horse issue while still having opportunities to seek out earlier coins on the secondary market, subject to availability and pricing.

Once the planned final edition is released in 2028, the series will form a complete 12-year collection that links each animal to a specific slice of Singapore’s natural or recreational landscape.

Next Steps in the 2026 Coin Rollout

From Tuesday, Nov 18, buyers can submit pre-orders for the full range of 2026 Year of the Horse coins and premium sets through designated online and phone channels. The pre-order period will remain open until Dec 14, after which demand will be assessed against available supply.

If the total number of orders exceeds the quantity of coins produced, allocation will be carried out via a ballot. Successful applicants will receive confirmation of their allocations, while others may not secure their requested items through the oversubscribed tranche.

From Jan 1, 2026, the coins will be released for public purchase, subject to remaining stock after pre-orders and ballot allocations. Throughout this process, all coins in the series will remain legal tender at their face values and may be redeemed at that amount if deposited with banks or the issuing authority.