In 1998, the Royal Canadian Mint inaugurated a remarkable series of sterling silver coins featuring the animal symbols of Chinese astrology based on the Lunar Calendar. These symbols roughly approximate the signs of the zodiac in western culture, however, denote years instead of months.
All 12 of the Lunar animals: the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Sheep, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and the Pig - appear in a circular arrangement around the rim of each coin, with a different animal highlighted each year in a central octagonal gold-plated cameo. For the year 2002, the Horse takes the place of honor.