Central bank launches pre-sales of Year of Horse coin sets

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Taiwan's central bank announced Tuesday the launch of pre-sales for commemorative coin sets marking the Chinese lunar calendar's Year of the Horse, priced at NT$2,450 (US$77.92) per set -- the highest price ever for the Chinese zodiac series.

The central bank has commissioned the Bank of Taiwan (BOT) to handle sales both online and through its branch network. The public can place online pre-orders from Tuesday through next Monday, or purchase the sets in person at BOT branches starting Jan. 29.

A total of 90,000 sets have been issued, including 50,000 allocated for online pre-orders and 40,000 for over-the-counter sales.

Online buyers are limited to a maximum of five sets per person, while in-branch purchases are capped at two sets per transaction, according to the bank.

Teng Yen-ta (鄧延達), director-general of the central bank's Department of Issuance, said the issuance volume was increased from last year's 80,000 sets for the Year of the Snake to 90,000 this year because the horse is widely regarded as an auspicious zodiac sign symbolizing success and vitality and is particularly popular among the public.

However, Teng said a sharp rise in global silver prices has pushed the price of the commemorative set to a record high in order to reflect production costs.

Over the past decade, Chinese zodiac coin sets were typically priced between NT$1,600 and NT$1,900, with the previous high of NT$2,000 set in 2013 during the Year of the Dragon.

However, silver prices surged throughout 2025, rising by about 140 percent year-on-year and at one point exceeding US$80 per ounce, Teng said.

Each commemorative set includes one silver coin with a face value of NT$100 and one copper-alloy coin with a face value of NT$10.

The silver coin contains one troy ounce of silver and features a partially gold-plated horse design on the obverse, while the reverse depicts Taipei 101's New Year's Eve fireworks.

The copper-alloy coin showcases a stylized horse design on the obverse and a partially colored hydrangea motif on the reverse.

The central bank said online pre-orders will be accepted through a designated BOT website, with a lottery system to be used if demand exceeds supply.