This is the 6th years of the lunar panda series. 2020 is year of PIG. This is not a favorable lunar years for Chinese. The planned mintage for silver proof is 299 and 99 for silver antique version.
The pre-order price
www.numicconnection.com (31.8.2019)at:-
182 per piece for silver at mintage 299
368 per piece for silver antique at mintage 99
The design are all consistent from monkey to rat. It is classic lunar design by choosing the rare and/or real animal(lunar) in China. let's recall the memory of the series of the LUNAR selected :-
MONKEY - Golden snub-nosed monkey or Sichuan golden hair monkey (四川金丝猴).
ROOSTER - Cochin breed of China.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin_chickenDOG - Peiking dog of China Beijing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PekingesePIG - Peiking/Beijing Black of China.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Black
RAT DESIGN CONCEPT + MESSAGE This is the 6th years of the classical and original Lunar panda series - RAT. The design concept always consistent "happy lunar family". Rat is the first Lunar of the 12 lunar so it is important of owning one of the medal in China Zodiac.
The China rat is belong to "Rhizomyidae" categories species that live in southern areas of China. This year we took the auspicious "Shu Zhao Feng Nian" concept which bless you for the Lunar Chinese New Year of 2020. Overall, this bless us in prosperous & Peaceful year ahead. Therefore, all types of rice, oat & fruits with 5 rats are designed - mother, father with "3" kids. Rats always link with "5" in China for many auspicious words. Moreover, the minor ethnic group of China always with more than 2 Kids. The ageing Population of China which they might open up the policy of having 3 kids for all in future. They just open up the policy of 2 kids in year of 2017(roaster).
PANDA DESIGN CONCEPT + MESSAGEAs you guy aware which this lunar panda series design concept always link with global and China development because panda is the diplomatic of China. Therefore the second message of this year panda is !!!!! Let recap the 1st till 5th years panda message before we go to this 2020 panda design.
2015 the 1st year "Lunar Goat Panda" - The "diplomat panda" which symbol of friendship with foreign countries in diplomatic occasions to kick start the series.
2016 the 2nd year "Lunar Monkey Panda" - The "sitting panda" to guard China and eager to visit the world.
2017 The 3rd years "Lunar Roaster Panda" - The "walking panda" brings us the message of "Panda" is going to the world by bringing the friendship message.
2018 The 4th years "Lunar Peiking Dog Panda" - The "playful panda" which open up the door of Great Wall and welcoming all the friends globally for fun playing.
2019 The 5th years "Lunar Pig Panda" - The "Retro panda" a bridge and platform between Fiat and Non fiat coins Panda coins at equal status which hoping USA and China trade war can discuss in open and equal platform. The 2019 panda fiat coin concept is "延续人文关怀 -母子亲情,天之大伦." The 2019 Panda non fiat coin by Shenyang concept is similar "延续人文关怀 -父子亲情,天之大伦." Fiat coin is all about "mother love" in turn the non fiat coin by Shenyang is all about "father love". Chinese call this "Yin" and "Yang" which represent "mother" and"father". This is the so call equal platform of fiat and non fiat coin.
2020 - The 6th years "Lunar Rat Panda" - The "Happy & serene panda" to standby and withstand the coming future regardless it is good or/and bad in current global uncertainty. Optimistic and go happy rather than worrying so much as long as there is a good family accompany you.