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Black Unicorn & White Unicorn 2022 2 oz Silver Proof Coin – China
USD 238.41
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China
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Product Description
Black Unicorn 2022 2 oz Silver Proof Coin – China
Much like the mystical creature it depicted, the China Mint’s famous Unicorn series is as hard to spot nowadays with few of these elegant beasts ever popping their heads up for collectors to get a glimpse at, much less purchase. The coins were—and still are—among the most popular and coveted pieces of numismatic art ever to burst on the scene. Struck for just four years from 1994 to 1997, they’ve have been out of sight for more than a quarter of a century. To pay tribute to the Unicorn Series’ 25th Anniversary, the China Mint has finally relented to collector demand and has released a new series of Unicorn medals, this time adding the even more reclusive Black Unicorn to the fold. Unfortunately, mintage numbers are so small that few collectors outside China will ever get the opportunity to own one of these exquisite Black Unicorns!
Mythological Creatures That Appeal To Both Western And Eastern Cultures
As most collectors know, the Unicorn is a mythological creature with strong appeal in both Western and Eastern cultures—though depictions are starkly different. In the West, Unicorns are often depicted as majestic white horses with long flowing manes & tails, and a single spiraled horn in the middle of their forehead. The Eastern Unicorn, known as Qilin, also has a single horn on its forehead, but that’s were similarities end. The Qilin has been described as being a multi-colored animal with the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, and the scales of a dragon. These creatures are seldom seen, and according to Chinese mythology, their rare appearances often coincide with the imminent birth or death of a sage or illustrious ruler. In Both the Western and Eastern versions, Black Unicorns are considered to be the most powerful of all unicorns. They have dark, foreboding elements in Western culture, and are divine, all-powerful beings in Eastern folklore.
Stunning High-Relief Imagery
On this medal struck in two full ounces of highly pure 99.9% fine silver, both an Eastern Black Unicorn and a Western White Unicorn appear to be circling each other in much the same way as the famous Yin and Yang symbol that represents opposing forces working together to create harmony. A spectacular black plating finish on the Eastern Unicorn adds even more contrast and tension to the imagery. There’s no mistaking which creature is the Western White Unicorn and which is the Eastern Black Unicorn. The designs are further augmented by stunning high-relief imagery that seems to leap from the surface of the medal—imagery that was made possible thanks to the painstaking process of carving the dramatic, intricate image on a plaster cast by esteemed China designer Zhu Xihua, an artist renowned for his animal artwork.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 25th ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA UNICORN SERIES – This medal was released in 2022 to mark the 25th Anniversary of China’s last Unicorn coin in 1997. This medal features an Eastern Black Unicorn and a Western White Unicorn in a Yin and Yang design. The obverse shows the Great Wall of China and the year date.
- SELECTIVE BLACK PLATING – A spectacular black plating finish on the Eastern Unicorn portion of the design was applied to add more contrast and tension to the imagery.
- RARELY SEEN SHENZHEN MINT MARK – This medal was struck at China’s Shenzhen-Guobao Mint and features a small “Z” mint mark on the bottom left side of the obverse. The “Z” mint mark has rarely been used in the past.
- STRUCK IN HIGHLY PURE SILVER – Each Black Unicorn Medal was struck in two full ounces of highly pure 99.9% fine silver and measures 45 mm in diameter.
- GORGEOUS PROOF FINISH – Your 2022 China Two-Ounce Silver Black Unicorn Medal comes in Proof condition with frosted details rising over mirror-like fields.
- VERY LOW LIMITED EDITION – The maximum worldwide limited edition for the 2022 China Two-Ounce Silver Black Unicorn Proof has been set at just 1,888.
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