2 oz Pure Silver Coin – Republique du Tchad 2022 – 10000 Francs CFA

The Chinese Sexagenary Cycle (六十甲子) is an ancient method of calculating years, months, dates and time. Consisting of 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, a pairing of 1 character from the stem followed by another from the branch will derive the sexagenary number of a Chinese year. The 10 heavenly stems are each associated with the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water – while the 12 earthly branches are represented by one of the 12 Zodiac animals.

The year of 2022 marks the 39th year of the 60-year Sexagenary cycle, the year of the Tiger in Chinese Zodiac. Those born in this year may be referred to as the “Tiger in the Forest”, or ‘過林之虎’ in Chinese. 

From the foliage of the forest emerges the tiger. A single leg sculpted in high relief steps out of the Chinese architectural patterns that outline the collectible. It reflects the symbolic nature of how the Tiger in the Forest comes to claim its ‘territory’ in this calendar year. The eyes of the tiger are indented deeply with a strong gaze while its fur and stripes are intricately sculpted to mimic the real edges and textures of the animal’s face. These fine details extend across the entire body of the tiger and bring the tiger to life in one’s hand. Chinese characters of 壬寅年 (Ren Yin Year) are detailed in the style of a red ink stamp to mark the 39th year of the cycle. On the reverse, tiger prints lay the background for the legal tender, the Coat of Arms du Tchad.