《TAIPEI TIMES》Central bank unveils set of coins for Dragon year - 焦點 - 自由時報電子報
臺灣銀行昨日公布「龍年」十二生肖紀念幣，預計銷售九萬套，每套價格新台幣1,900元。其中銀幣正面有鍍金龍紋，背面為高雄內門宋江陣；銅合金幣正面為龍戲珠，背面為玫瑰圖案。發行處主任鄧延達表示，龍象徵高貴，預期銷售佳績。此系列紀念幣可於下週一至六線上預購，或自1月22日起至各分行購買。
2024/01/04 03:00
By Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporter
The central bank yesterday unveiled a set of Chinese zodiac commemorative coins for the Year of the Dragon, which are available for online preorder from Monday to Saturday next week or to purchase at Bank of Taiwan （臺灣銀行） branches nationwide from Jan. 22.
The central bank hopes to sell 90,000 sets of the coins, with 45,000 units each for online preorders and in-person sales, it said in a statement.
Each set, priced at NT$1,900, consists of one silver coin weighing 1 ounce （28.3g） with a face value of NT$100 and one copper-alloy coin with a face value of NT$10, it said.
The silver coin’s obverse side has a gold-plated image of a dragon and the reverse side bears an image of the Songjiang Battle Array （宋江陣） in Kaohsiung’s Neimen District （內門）, the central bank said.
The traditional battle ritual is a form of performing arts that combines elements of martial arts, dance and drumming, the central bank statement said.
A few hundred years ago, it was performed as physical training to unite and defend local communities. It morphed into a religious activity to entertain deities and then into folk art, it said.
The Neimen Festival is one of Taiwan’s most distinctive cultural tourism events, the central bank said.
The copper-alloy coin bears an image of a dragon playing with a pearl on its obverse side, while the reverse side has a rose pad printed in color, it said.
As the dragon represents nobility and is synonymous with excellence, sales of the coin sets are expected to be good, Department of Issuance Director-General Teng Yen-ta （鄧延達） told a news conference in Taipei, adding that Taiwanese are generally drawn to the dragon among the 12 zodiac signs.
The central bank started issuing zodiac commemorative coin sets in 2017 for the Year of the Rooster.
Last year it sold 90,000 sets for the Year of the Rabbit.
Central bank Department of Issuance Director-General Teng Yen-ta introduces Chinese zodiac commemorative coins for the Year of the Dragon at a news conference at the bank in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: CNA
Central bank staff members hold the Year of the Dragon coin sets at a news conference at the bank in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: CNA
來源：自由時報
