Russian Souvenir, Russia

1 dollar (Niue Island)

28,28 g

35 х 45mm, oval shape

Silver 925°

5000 pcs.

Proof, pad printing

Michail Shmakov

BH Mayer Mint (Germany)

The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the designations of the country of issue, denomination and the year of issue. On the reverse in the center there is an image of a dragon entwisted the globe, made in color. Around the globe the four elements are symbolically depicted in color: earth, fire, water and air.

The Eastern calendar was drawn up during the semi-legendary Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the middle of the third millennium BC. This calendar is a 60-year-old ring system based on astronomical cycles of the Sun, Earth, Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. A legend says that all animals were invited by Buddha to celebrate the first New Year. Buddha promised to give each animal a year, which will be called by its name. Only 12 animals came to the invitation of Buddha: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster and dog. The last one who came was a pig. The grateful Buddha gave to all these 12 animals one year to rule. The Eastern calendar starts from the year of a rat and ends with a year of a pig. In the East they believe that these animals have the ability to confer people with certain personal features depending on the year of their birth.