Year of the Fire Horse: Horses are galloping onto paper money in 2026
Fire, folklore, and festive currency mark the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse.
Welcome to the YEAR OF THE FIRE HORSE!
This new Lunar Year began on February 17, 2026, and will continue until February 6, 2027. Not only is there an arrival of another year to celebrate, but it also brought a new zodiac, with 2026 dedicated to the seventh sign, the horse.
It is said in Chinese folklore that the horse found its placement on the zodiac calendar after the Great Race, a competition held by the Jade Emperor to determine the zodiac's order. As the horse was galloping toward the finish line for sixth place, a snake slithered around its hoof and spooked it. Then it jumped off and crossed the finish line, as the horse finished behind.
Despite its startled start onto the zodiac calendar, the horse this year has a lively personality. As every year is assigned to an animal, so is a natural element. This year is fire, making 2026 the year of the Fire Horse, a creature who, when fire and horse are paired together, is energetic, passionate, and rebellious. According to Jennifer Bushland in her World Coin News article, “Year of the Fire Horse,” they are “known to stand their ground and can struggle with personalities like their own.”
There are many ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year—often by eating delicious mooncakes and lighting firecrackers—but a tradition for some has been with numismatics. Many numismatists will purchase money memorabilia, such as commemorative coins and bank notes, to remember the festivities beyond the calendar year. Lunar New Year currency has even become an annual tradition for a number of numismatic companies and state banks, which issue festive bank notes inspired by the latest zodiac sign.
Interested in ringing in the Lunar Year with bank notes? Here are some noteworthy selections that will get you in the spirit of the Fire Horse.
The People’s Bank of China: As is tradition, the People’s Bank of China has issued a commemorative bank note in honor of the Lunar New Year. Inspired by the yearly zodiac, the colorized 20-yuan bank note features a galloping horse on the obverse, adorned with Chinese motifs and symbols. The reverse displays a familiar sight of three children, who have starred on multiple Lunar New Year notes from China, who are celebrating by playing instruments. Behind them stands a collection of Mongolian yurts. Courtesy of Shuwentoys/eBay.
PMG: A new year means another addition to PMG’s Lunar series of special labels. In honor of the zodiac’s arrival, the paper money grading company has made a label with a red horse emblem to hold Year of the Horse notes. Courtesy of PMG.
CIT: As part of its annual Lunar Year series, CIT has created a special 5-gram, 0.999 100 togrog for Mongolia. This year’s edition is a prooflike note that features on the reverse a colorized scene of a rearing horse in the Mongolian landscape, amongst cherry blossoms and decorative motifs. Courtesy of CIT.
Singapore Mint: The Singapore Mint is ushering in 2026 with a vast selection of products. Bank note fans can scoop up the Treasure Cove Festive pack, which includes a 24-karat gold medallion and a Singapore $2 bank note housed in a Year of the Horse-themed folder, or the Bundle of Bliss II–2026 Year of the Horse set that offers a colorized 24-karat medallion with a 24-karat gold foil note in a colorful folder. Those giving out lucky money can buy a 10-pack Hongbao red envelope set that shows a foiled horse design on the front and back. Courtesy of Singapore Mint.
The Merrick Mint: The Merrick Mint’s Lunar New Year celebration is found at its Lucky Money Store (luckymoneystore.com). Products vary in type and display, including bank notes with colorized gold or red holograms in blue folios, large collectors’ folios, red envelopes, and a vast range of star notes in specialized folders. Courtesy of the Merrick Mint.
€0 Note: There is a lot to celebrate with this 2026 Lunar Year of the Horse €0 note. Not only does it commemorate the lunar year with a special horse-themed print, but it also honors the 10th anniversary of €0 notes with a special gold emblem. Courtesy of Ox Collections.
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