Stripes

SPANISH DOUBLOON features the Iberian LYNX struck as a Reverse

Proof

of which 4,000 were struck on December 1, 2021. Of those only 1000 were designated as First-Dayof-Issue by PCGS and NGC.

Columnarios — the Pillars of Hercules design representing the joining of the two Old and New World hemispheres — with two globes crowned over the sea, and the motto “PLVS VLTRA” on ribbons mounted on opposite pillars.

crowned symbol of the Spanish Mint. Legends identify Spain’s current monarch, Felipe VI, the coin’s weight—31.21 grams — and 999.9

——— A UNIQUE TIME SENSITIVE OFFER ———

A limited number of FIRST-DAY-OF-ISSUE

• First-Day-Of-Issue • First Strike (1 of 200) coins are $3950 for PR70 and $3250 for PR69.

Because these coins are:

orders are limited to 4 per customer while they last.

reverse proofs and of limited quantity. Contact us to reserve your coins!

contact Kagins, Inc. by email at info@Kagins.com or by phone at 888-8KAGINS (852-4467)or online at Kagins.com Act Now! Limited Quantities!

Stripes

By Peter Anthony

1986 10 Yuan 15-gram .900 silver, diameter 33 millimeters, mintage 10,000. Courtesy of Peter Anthony.

The deserted Beijing playground is blanketed in white as a gray cat noses around a bench. Snowflakes dance in the wind as four-year-old Sisi turns her eyes away from the frigid courtyard outside the apartment window. There will be no running down the four flights of concrete stairs to play with friends today. “Should we continue?” asks Yeye (pronounced Yeh-Yeh), her grandfather.

She snuggles closer to him and feels the softness of his sweater. “Yes, please, tell me more!”

The old man closes his eyes and then abruptly opens them wide as he speaks, “Hey, hey, where are you going?” the innkeeper shouts at a traveler. “Night is coming and tigers prowl this area! It’s against the law to travel at night – the order is posted.”

“Wu Song hears this, but says to himself, ‘This joker only wants to take my money. Tiger? Nonsense!’ and ignores the calls. The light on the tree tops is golden now as the shadows around him darken, yet on he marches. Suddenly two tigers spring out of the bushes and block his path. Wu’s heart sinks and his life passes before his eyes. ‘This is it,’ he mutters as he grips his staff and prepares to put up the best fight he can.”

Then to Wu’s amazement the tigers stand up. These “tigers” are really men dressed in tiger skins “Have you the heart of a lion that you’re so brave?” one yells furiously at him and levels a pitchfork in Wu’s direction. “No one walks alone and unarmed here at night. Turn around while you can, if you are a man and not some demon!”

Yeye pauses, “You know Sisi, the tiger is one of 12 animal years in the calendar and long ago people believed it could even travel between Heaven and Earth. For them the tiger was a symbol of good fortune, happiness, and safety from evil spirits. This makes the Year of the Tiger very special; it is a time of prosperity, progress, and success. Here, let me show you something.”

He gently lifts Sisi up and settles her onto the couch. From a well-worn wooden bureau, her grandfather opens a drawer and pushes aside some shirts. He pulls out an object covered in black velvet.

The box inside the velvet bag has several trays. Yeye pulls one out; it is filled with gleaming silver coins, each decorated with the image of a Zodiac animal: rabbit, snake, rat, dragon, and more. On one a tiger roars as it descends a rock. “Look Sisi, this is from 1986. It’s not very big and weighs just 15 grams of silver, but it is the very first New Year coin that I saw. It was in a shop window in Hong Kong. I went there as a translator for our company. I did not buy it then, but told myself that one day I would find it again.”

“Look at the detail – this was all carved by hand because

1998 1,000 Yuan 12 ounces .999 gold , diameter 70 millimeters, mintage 99. Courtesy of Peter Anthony. there were no computers for coin design back then. You know how dolls, or cell phones, are made in factories? Well, a mint is a factory that makes coins. Th is one was made at the Shenyang Mint in Liaoning Province.”

He says, “Th e design and the carving, we call it engraving, of this tiger coin is by Mr. Wang Fude (Foo-Duh). Many Chinese coins use his artwork. His design in 1982 for the Year of the Dog coin was China’s fi rst-ever winner of the International Coin of the Year Award. I once heard Master Wang speak. He told us about how the pose of this dog is based on a wonderful painting by the artist Liu Jiyou and that another designer was fi rst chosen to work on it. However, the other designer’s idea was not approved. Th e project then came to him. Master Wang took the approach that it was important to render the fur and details well and his work was accepted. Four years later, he designed another Lunar Year coin — the one we have with a tiger on it. Its design is also based on a painting, this one by a lady artist named Ms. He Xiangning. Th at is the coin we have here.”

Continuing, he notes, “Four years is a long time, Sisi. So many things happen. Four years from now you will be eight years old, a big girl.” Yeye then lifted another coin. “Th is one was made 12 years later. Each cycle of the calendar lasts 12 years, so after 1986 the next Year of the Tiger was 1998. It shows a tiger climbing up a rock.”

1998 10 Yuan 1 ounce .999 silver, diameter 40 millimeters, mintage, 50,000. Courtesy of Peter Anthony.

1998 500 Yuan 5 ounces .999 gold , diameter 60 millimeters, mintage 99. Courtesy of Peter Anthony.

Th e girl asks, “And what about this tiger coin? It looks like a big cat, Yeye.”

Th e old man chuckles, “Th is 2010 coin shows the tiger at rest. Its design is by two coin artists at the mint in Shanghai: Zhu Xihua and He Yun. Mr. Zhu has created many, many famous designs for the People’s Republic. Also, do you notice anything special about the shape of this coin? It looks like a plum blossom. Do you know why?”

“It means that spring is coming!” Sisi exclaims.

Her grandfather smiles. “Exactly. Th is tree bravely blossoms and brings color into our lives during the gray winter months. Speaking of bravery, let’s return to our story. Th ere is a rock and a tiger in it, too.”

Sisi leans against her grandfather’s shoulder as he intones sharply, “‘Who are you? What are you doing here?’ Wu Song demands.”

Th e grandfather tells, “Haven’t you heard?” the two men dressed up as tigers reply together. “Th ere’s a vicious tiger that prowls this ridge at night. It has attacked more people than anyone can count! Th e local governor ordered us to fi nd and subdue it, but we can’t, so it is still somewhere nearby ready to pounce. Go back, or it will fi nd you, too.”

He continues, “But, Wu Song thinks, ‘If I turn around that inn-keeper will call me a coward and probably charge twice as much as normal.’ So, with a laugh, he walks right past the woodsman and ventures deeper into the forest. Darkness now cloaks the trail and it is hard to follow. Wu grips his stout staff tightly and says out loud to no one, ‘Don’t worry, don’t worry, it’s not very far to the other side. People are like deer, easily scared. Th ere is no tiger here.’” He declares, “Th e slope gets steeper and Wu Song starts to sweat despite the evening chill. By the time he reaches the summit he feels worn out. Th ere he eyes a large smooth rock. ‘Ah, a good resting spot,’ he says to himself and lays his staff and pack down beside it. Wu Song then sits and leans against the rock. He is half asleep when a gust of wind grabs his hat, but he snatches it just in time. As the roar of the wind subsides he hears another roar. Wu Song is suddenly wide awake. From out of the bushes strides an immense white tiger with eyes that measure the man. His staff in hand Wu Song quickly scampers behind the rock. Claws bared the great beast leaps toward him.” At that moment there is a sound — a key turns in the apartment’s door. A moment later they hear footsteps in the hallway – it is Sisi’s mother. “Ni hao, hello,” she calls. “Mama,” Sisi cries and runs to her. “We were talking about tigers!” Yeye puts the black velvet cover over the coin box and replaces it in the bureau. As the days pass the snow melts and green covers the trees outside the apartment. White magnolia blossoms mingle with red lanterns hung from the trees as magpies peck in the courtyard grass — in search of whatever is a treasure to them. Sisi stares out the window at the birds. Th en, she notices a gray cat creeping slowly through the grass towards the fl ock, stalking them tiger-like. But before the feline can pounce a kicked ball comes rolling along with a boy in hot pursuit. Th e

2010 50 Yuan 5 ounces .999 silver, diameter 70 millimeters, mintage 8,800. Courtesy of Peter Anthony.

magpies instantly fl utter off and the cat bounds away.

“Yeye,” Sisi says, “there was a cat in the yard. It looked just like a little tiger except without stripes.”

“Do you know how the tiger got its stripes, little one?”

Sisi realizes a story is coming and sits down on the couch next to Yeye.

He looks at her, smiles, and begins, “Long ago, when animals could talk, tigers had no stripes. One day a tiger watched a rice fi eld. Th ere, a huge water buff alo stood waiting as its master ate lunch. Th e tiger crept forward until it was near the buff alo. Th en it whispered, ‘Don’t worry, I will not hurt you. Just tell me, why do you allow this puny human to command you? You are much mightier than he is, but I was told that wisdom is more powerful than any beast. Please, tell me, what is wisdom?’”

“’I don’t know,’” replied the buff alo ‘Go talk to my master.’”

“So, the tiger snuck up on the man. When he saw the great cat the man was panic-stricken, but the tiger said, ‘Calm down, I will not hurt you. Just tell me, what is wisdom? Can you give me some?’”

“Th e trembling man replied, ‘I must go get it, but if you go with me you will scare my family witless. Can you wait here?’”

“Th e tiger answered, ‘I will wait, but if you do not return I will be angry and you will regret breaking your word.’”

“Th e farmer hurried off , but then stopped and addressed the tiger, “Wait. How can I leave my animals alone with you? What if you get hungry? Will you allow me to tie you to this tree just until I return? After all, I am bringing you wisdom.’”

“Th e tiger thought about how mighty he would become if he could combine wisdom and strength, so he agreed. Th e man then fi rmly bound the great beast’s legs and paws before he tied it to a tree.”

“Not long after he returned with his three sons and a cart full of hay. I have brought you wisdom. Th e hay was soon spread around the base of the tree. Th e man then set it on fi re. Th e tiger howled. Th en at last he broke free and ran to the river to soothe his burns.”

He said, “Th e wounds healed with time, but from that day on wherever the tiger was burned is orange and where the ropes held him are black stripes.”