Peter Anthony: The 8 gram gold Lunar set is one of the most popular sets of Modern Chinese coins. The 1981 250 Yuan 8 gram gold Rooster is the first coin in a 12-year cycle of gold Lunar coins that runs from 1981 to 1992. It is also the very first Chinese gold Lunar coin of the modern era. It was released in January of 1981 before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday. It is Proof in quality.

The dynamic design on the reverse side is based on a painting of a rooster posed on a rock outcropping by the renowned Chinese artist Xu Beihong (1895-1956). On the obverse is an image the White Pagoda in Beijing’s Imperial Beihai Park. The park’s history goes back more than 800 years. It was used as a garden by five dynasties during that time span. It makes a very fitting subject for this important coin.

This coin is typically found with well frosted devices and deep mirror fields. Lunar coins like the 1981 gold Rooster are challenges to find in high grades. Prices for Proof 69 examples are usually well above the lower grades.

In the NGC Registry the 1981 250 Yuan 8 gram gold Rooster is part of the “Gold 8 Gram (150Y), Series I, 1981-1992, Proof” set.