The 2018 Lunar Year of the Dog coin is another addition to The Royal Mint’s Shengxiào Collection. Combining centuries of Chinese tradition with British minting craftsmanship, the collection celebrates the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, or Shengxiào, and their distinctive characteristics and qualities.
Just as a dog is seen as a faithful companion, people born in the Year of the Dog are believed to be true and loyal friends. Typically they are honest, kind and will do everything for the person they think is most important. Due to their loyal personality, those born in the Year of the Dog often work in jobs that involve helping others. They are popular in the workplace as they are easy-going and happy to lighten the load of those around them.
The dog Wuon-Gean chose to incorporate into her coin design is the terrier. Dogs of the terrier type have been known in the UK for many hundreds of years and as early as the Middle Ages, these game breeds were portrayed by writers and painters. The trend for depicting terriers in art boomed in the nineteenth century. “The dog depicted in this design is a mixed breed, looking like a West Highland White Terrier crossed with a Jack Russell. I wanted to show the energy and exuberance of a more compact dog. Bouncy, full of life and very playful, terriers have a quick intelligence, lots of loyalty and big personalities.”
