879) An Uncirculated $1 US Federal Reserve Banknote from the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, rings in the Year of the Pig (2019) from the Chinese Zodiac Cycle/Lunar Calendar titled "Lucky Money Collection":
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
1) Year of the Pig - 2019: A Gold coin of 1,000 Togrog and a 100 Togrog Banknote from Mongolia, issued by Coin Invest Trust (CIT) in 2018, minted by BH Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich
2) Year of the Brown (or Yellow) Earth Dog: Kyrgyz Express Post 100 KGS Stamp issued on 31.01.2018
3) Year of the Dog (2018): 50 Euro Gold Coin and 20 Euro & 10 Euro Silver Coins issued by the Monnaie de Paris celabrating the new Lunar New Year (2018)
2019 is the Year of the Pig in the Chinese Lunar Calendar/Zodiac Cycle.
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
1) Year of the Pig - 2019: A Gold coin of 1,000 Togrog and a 100 Togrog Banknote from Mongolia, issued by Coin Invest Trust (CIT) in 2018, minted by BH Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich
2) Year of the Brown (or Yellow) Earth Dog: Kyrgyz Express Post 100 KGS Stamp issued on 31.01.2018
3) Year of the Dog (2018): 50 Euro Gold Coin and 20 Euro & 10 Euro Silver Coins issued by the Monnaie de Paris celabrating the new Lunar New Year (2018)
2019 is the Year of the Pig in the Chinese Lunar Calendar/Zodiac Cycle.
How does the Lunar Calendar or Chinese Zodiac work?
I consulted some of the books which have been kept in my personal library and got acquainted with some interesting facts about the Chinese Zodiac/Lunar Calendar:
The exact origins of the 12 animal signs is rather lost in the obscurity of time, but there is no doubt that they originated in China. In terms of Chinese astrological "history", the 12 animals are of a rather recent introduction - for it seems that in the 2nd Century BC, Ssu Ma Chi'en (163-85 BC), who was the grand astrologer to Emperor Wu Ti, wrote the Shi Chi or "historical record up to that time. In this book, there is no "Zodiac" or mention of the 12 animals.
Originally, the 12 year cycle that it takes the planet Jupiter to complete one orbit of the Sun was believed to have defined the earlier calendars. The Chinese still call this cycle "the Great Year" and each month corresponds to one of our own years.
By the 10th Century, however, after Buddhism had been established in China, Calendar Almanacs, such as those written by Tibetan monks in exile in the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas" monastery in the remote reaches of North-western China, depicting the 12 animals, came into existence.
The legend of the Conference of animals called by the Buddha and naming of the 12 year cycle after 12 animals for the Chinese Lunar Calendar:
According to a legend, it was the Buddha (583-463 BC), who created the 12-animal cycle. He is believed to have invited all the animals in the land to hold a conference together. The Buddha was not surprised, as in his wisdom, he knew that some of the animals were friendly towards others, while others were enemies.
To encourage attendance, he decided to name the years after the first twelve animals, in order of their arrival.
An invitation from the Buddha was hard to resist, and when they heard the news, all the animals set off at once, each determined to be the first to arrive.
Tiger, because of his energy and speed, at first took the lead. Soon, though, he began to tire and the early lead that he had achieved over his next rival Ox, who may have been slow, but had great stamina, soon dissipated. Ox reached the Buddha ahead of Tiger and prepared to bow down low to receive his honour.
But, what the sturdy Ox did not know was that clever Rat had sneaked a ride on his tail !! Just before Ox's nose touched the floor at the Buddha's feet, nimble and swift Rat ran up Ox's tail, along his back and jumped off his nose, thus winning the race to be the first to bow before the Buddha. So Rat (or "Tze" is its Chinese name"), became the first animal in the Chinese Lunar Calendar/Zodiac, followed by a rather resentful Ox ("Chou").
Tiger ("Yin"), Rabbit ("Mao"), Dragon ("Chen"), Snake ("Si"), Horse ("Wu"), Goat ("Wei"), Monkey ("Shen"), Rooster ("You"), Dog ("Xu"), and Pig ("Hai"), all followed, and in that order, paid homage to the Buddha and were each honoured with a year.
Interestingly, Dragon is the only mythical beast in the Chinese Circle of Zodiacal animals.
According the Lunar or Chinese Zodiac, each year is assigned to the above-referred animals, according to a 12-year cycle.
As such, the Year of the Pig includes, for example - 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2031.
The next year is "Year of the Pig" 92019) following the present "Year of the Dog" (2018):
As with Western Zodiac, persons born within that year are said to possess certain personalitytraits or have pre-destined luck in romance, fortune and other aspects which bring happiness or sorrow.
The Sign of the Pig emphasises the importance of family. Those born under this sign are considered astrologically very fortunate, as Pig is associated with virility and fertility. The Sign of the Pig is associated with characteristics of sincerity, generosity and capability, with great strength of character.
Persons born under the Sign of the Pig are honest, courageous, hard-working, caring, simple and love their food. They are financially successful, but without ostentatious displays of wealth. They are either tidy or untidy - but never dirty.
They are very industrious and with careful planning can achieve their goals. They love to complete their goals/projects.
They are ideally suited to technical, scientific and practical careers and because they are good listeners are able to deal with people and make good managers. They hate hypocrisy and lying.
The celebration of the coming of the Lunar Year - "Year of the Pig" (2019):
It is a tradition that in celebration of the Chinese New Year, people from all over the world exchange gifts. Gifts of money are still the most frequently chosen presents in China and across the Globe. Traditionally, they are put in red envelopes and there is an old Chinese saying that at the "end of the day, you receive almost as much money as you have given away".
The second most popular gift in China is the lucky symbol connected to the Chinese Zodiac that initiates the new Lunar Year. Countless gifts shaped like or depicting a pig will once again be exchanged to mark the "Year of the Pig".
The Uncirculated $1 Banknote issued by the US Federal Reserve, printed by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing:
The US Federal Reserve has commemorated the "Year of the Pig" with the issue of a $1 Banknote from the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. This latest issue to the "Lucky Money Collection" is an uncirculated $1 Federal Reserve Banknote embellished with Chinese symbols and comes in an eye-catching red folder embossed with golden foil:
The Banknote bears a serial number beginning with "8888" and is placed in an attractive red folder featuring decorative, embossed gold foil. The presentation set titled "Lucky Money Collection" captures the significance of Chinese numerology and the Pig Zodiac symbol.
The specifications of this Banknote are:
Denomination: $1; Dimensions: 9.5 x 5.5 inches; Production Facilities: Washington DC, Fort Worth TX; Retailing Federal Reserve outlets: Boston (A), New York (B), Philadelphia (C), Cleveland (D), Richmond (E), Atlanta (F), Chicago (G), St. Louis (H), Minneapolis (I), Kansas City (J), Dallas (K), San Francisco (L).
Links:
23) i) Evolution of the $2 (Two Dollars) Banknote in the United States ofAmerica; ii)The Federal Reserve orders a limited quantity of $2 Banknotes for thw fiscal Year 2019 after a gap of 2 years
24) An Uncirculated $1 US Federal Reserve Banknote from the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, rings in the "Year of the PIG" (2019) from the Chinese Zodiac Cycle/Lunar Calendar titled "Lucky Money Collection"
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