China’s Year of the Horse commemorative coins and banknotes sell out within minutes, sparking a collector frenzy and soaring resale prices.
On the evening of January 13th, China opened reservations for its 2026 Year of the Horse commemorative coins and banknotes. The event sparked a buying frenzy. Many bank reservation systems slowed down as thousands of collectors rushed to secure their sets.
Collector Frenzy and Soaring Prices
By January 14th, discussions about the coins and banknotes were trending on Chinese social media. Some sets were reportedly reselling for as much as 2,000 yuan (£225).
Collectors described the experience as almost impossible. “Sold out in seconds,” one buyer said. “Way too hard to get.”
Secondary market prices have surged. A 10-yuan coin (£1.10) is selling for around 13 yuan (£1.50). A 20-yuan banknote (£2.25) is going for 35 yuan (£4). Complete sets of 20 notes can fetch as much as 2,000 yuan (£225). Special serial numbers command even higher prices. For example, notes ending in “888” are priced at 300 yuan (£34).
Limited Editions and Market Trends
The People’s Bank of China announced that the 10-yuan coins are made of bi-metal alloy, with a total issue of 100 million pieces (including 10,000 retained for historical archives). The 20-yuan banknotes are made of polymer, with 100 million notes issued (including 20,000 for archives).
Experts warn that the early excitement may not last. Previous Zodiac banknotes, such as the Dragon and Snake series, initially doubled in price but later saw declines.
The Year of the Horse banknote is the third in China’s Zodiac series, which began in 2024 with the Dragon notes. Meanwhile, the commemorative coin tradition dates back to 2003 with the Year of the Sheep coin.
Written by Ronnie Yu, additional reporting by HKCNA.
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