Taipei: Taiwan's central bank announced the launch of pre-sales for commemorative coin sets celebrating the Chinese lunar calendar's Year of the Horse, with each set priced at NT$2,450 (US$77.92) - marking the highest price ever for the Chinese zodiac series.
According to Focus Taiwan, the central bank has appointed the Bank of Taiwan (BOT) to manage the sales, both online and through its branch network. The public has the opportunity to place online pre-orders from Tuesday through next Monday, or to purchase the sets in person at BOT branches starting January 29.
A total of 90,000 sets have been released, with 50,000 reserved for online pre-orders and 40,000 available for over-the-counter sales. The bank has imposed limits on purchases, allowing online buyers a maximum of five sets per person, while in-branch transactions are capped at two sets per purchase.
Teng Yen-ta, director-general of the central bank's Department of Issuance, mentioned that the issuance volume increased from last year's 80,000 sets for the Year of the Snake to 90,000 this year. This is due to the horse being considered an auspicious zodiac sign symbolizing success and vitality, making it particularly popular among the public.
However, Teng noted that a sharp rise in global silver prices has driven the cost of the commemorative set to a record high to cover production expenses. Over the past decade, Chinese zodiac coin sets were typically priced between NT$1,600 and NT$1,900, with the previous high being NT$2,000 in 2013 during the Year of the Dragon. Silver prices surged throughout 2025, increasing by about 140 percent year-on-year and at one point surpassing US$80 per ounce, Teng added.
Each commemorative set consists of 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 showcases Taipei 101's New Year's Eve fireworks. The copper-alloy coin highlights a stylized horse design on the obverse and a partially colored hydrangea motif on the reverse.
The central bank indicated that online pre-orders will be processed through a designated BOT website, with a lottery system employed if demand exceeds supply.