China has begun issuing a new series of precious metal commemorative coins to mark 2026, the Year of the Horse, introducing a multi-denomination collection in gold, silver and platinum that is classified as legal tender. The series, released on Wednesday, includes a limited run of ultra-high-value pieces along with coins intended for a broader collector base, continuing a long-running annual zodiac program.

The newly issued set consists of six gold coins, four silver coins and one platinum coin, each designed around horse-themed motifs and denominated in yuan. The coins vary significantly in weight, diameter, face value and planned mintage, ranging from a 10‑kilogram gold piece with an extremely low issuance cap to a 15‑gram silver coin produced in much larger quantities.

High-Value Gold Coin Highlights Series

At the top of the range is a circular gold coin weighing 10 kilograms, making it the most substantial piece in the series by weight and material value. The coin measures 180 millimeters in diameter, underscoring its status as a large-format collectible.

This 10‑kilogram coin carries a face value of 100,000 yuan, equivalent to roughly 14,113 U.S. dollars at the time of issuance. Its mintage is strictly limited to 18 pieces, placing it among the rarest items in the newly released set and positioning it as a high-end numismatic product for specialized collectors and institutions.

Alongside the flagship piece, the broader group of six gold coins offers a structured range of sizes and denominations. While specific technical details for each smaller gold coin are not listed in the same level of granularity, the composition of the set indicates a tiered approach that covers heavier prestige pieces and smaller items more accessible to individual buyers.

Silver Coin Targets Wider Collector Base

Within the collection, the 15‑gram circular silver coin stands out as the coin with the largest mintage. It weighs 15 grams, has a diameter of 33 millimeters and carries a face value of 5 yuan.

The maximum mintage for this 15‑gram silver coin is set at 250,000 pieces. This relatively high cap, compared with the extremely low issuance of the 10‑kilogram gold coin, signals a dual strategy that combines exclusivity at the top end with broader participation at the entry level of the series.

The smaller face value and modest weight of the silver piece generally position it as a more affordable option for collectors. Its larger mintage is designed to accommodate stronger demand among individual buyers and enthusiasts of zodiac-themed commemoratives, while still maintaining the restricted supply characteristic of numismatic issues.

Platinum Coin Adds Material Diversity

The set also includes one platinum coin, adding a third precious metal to the Year of the Horse program. While specific dimensions, face value and mintage details for the platinum coin are not set out in the same level of detail as the flagship gold and leading silver issues, its presence rounds out the material composition of the collection.

By incorporating gold, silver and platinum within a single thematic program, the issue offers different price points and material preferences within a unified design framework. This multi-metal structure contributes to the diversity of the series and allows different segments of the collector community to participate at varying levels of investment.

Legal Tender Status and Distribution

All coins in the Year of the Horse collection are designated as legal tender within China, meaning each carries an official face value denominated in yuan. Although their market value as collectibles and as precious metal products can exceed the face value, the legal tender designation establishes their formal monetary status.

Distribution of the coins is handled by a specialized coin distribution entity. This organization is responsible for bringing the coins to the domestic market through approved channels and coordinating allocation across different denominations and metals within the series.

The issuance and distribution framework ensures that both the high-end 10‑kilogram gold coin and the mass‑mintage silver coin reach their intended audiences. It also supports organized sales, collection and potential secondary market activity around the Year of the Horse release.

Long-Running Zodiac Coin Program

The Year of the Horse collection forms part of a broader sequence of zodiac-themed commemorative coins that has been released on an annual basis for decades. This program began in 1981 and has continued every year since, covering successive cycles of the traditional zodiac calendar.

Over time, the annual zodiac coin program has expanded in both variety and complexity. It now features different metals, weights, denominations and design approaches, making it one of the most diverse coin series in the domestic commemorative market.

The continuity of the program since 1981 has contributed to its recognition among collectors. As the longest-running series of its kind in the country, it offers a structured timeline of issues that trace changing design techniques, artistic styles and series compositions across more than four decades.

Popularity Among Collectors

The zodiac-themed precious metal series has become one of the most popular commemorative coin programs in the domestic market. The combination of cultural themes with precious metal content, coupled with annually refreshed designs, supports persistent demand across successive issues.

The Year of the Horse release extends this established pattern. The focus on the horse motif, visually represented on pieces such as the 500‑gram commemorative coin with a decorative horse head design, fits into the broader tradition of zodiac imagery that has characterized past issues in the series.

High-profile items like the 10‑kilogram gold coin draw attention to the release and emphasize rarity and prestige, while more accessible denominations such as the 15‑gram silver coin enable wider participation. This range underpins the continued popularity of the series and reinforces its established position in the commemorative coin segment.

Design and Thematic Features

Visual elements of the Year of the Horse coins center on stylized representations of horses and related decorative motifs. One prominent example showcased in imagery from the release is a 500‑gram circular gold coin featuring a detailed horse head motif.

The design approach blends traditional cultural symbolism associated with the zodiac horse with contemporary artistic execution. This method aligns with the broader practice in recent zodiac issues of using modern minting techniques and relief work to highlight key thematic elements on both large and small denominations.

The different denominations and metals in the set likely share consistent thematic elements to maintain visual coherence within the series. While specific reverse and obverse details for each coin type are not fully enumerated, the overarching design language is unified by the Year of the Horse theme.

Structured Product Portfolio for 2026 Zodiac Issue

By offering six gold, four silver and one platinum coin under a single zodiac banner, the new release functions as a structured product portfolio for the 2026 lunar year. The variety of weights, diameters and face values allows for differentiated positioning across collector segments.

High‑weight coins such as the 10‑kilogram gold piece occupy the top tier of the portfolio, defined by extremely low mintage and high nominal value. Mid-range pieces, including heavier gold and silver coins, cater to experienced collectors seeking substantial precious metal content without entering the ultra‑limited bracket.

Entry-level options, led by the 15‑gram silver coin with a 5‑yuan face value and the highest mintage cap in the set, aim at collectors who value the zodiac theme and legal tender status but prefer lower acquisition costs. Together, these segments support a layered approach to the Year of the Horse product line.

Ongoing Issuance and Future Installments

The start of distribution for the 2026 Year of the Horse coins marks the latest installment in an uninterrupted annual sequence that began in 1981. With each new lunar year, additional zodiac-themed precious metal coins are scheduled to be developed and released under the same overarching framework.

Future installments are expected to continue the pattern of featuring a mix of metals, denominations and issue volumes, maintaining the series’ role as a long-term, recurring presence in the commemorative coin market. The current Year of the Horse collection becomes part of that broader timeline, joining past and future zodiac issues as another numbered entry in the continuing program.