REVERSE
This series debuts with a 2018 Year of the Dog coin that is inspired by the Hound of Baskervilles, a supernatural and diabolical beast from the novel of the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his third book that features the legend of Sherlock Holmes. The coin has two traditional Asian buildings plus clouds and a moon with craters will be in the background.
In a twist, this Lunar series will depict fictional animal characters in active poses focusing on motions and life actions on the reverse side of each coin.
OBVERSE
The obverse will be the same for all 12 Lunar coins showing 12 claws of the fictional character on its two paws (6 claws on each paw) with each claw symbolizing one of the Lunar animals, whose name will appear above the claw. Knowing the current or any other animal/year, collectors can use this design to figure out by counting what their own Lunar year is and will know what other coins they need to complete the series.
At the top of the common obverse will be a moon, while in the center will appear the coat of arms of the Republic of Chad that holds by two paws.
And under the coat of arms will be the logo of the Mint of Poland. Surrounding this design will be inscriptions for the purity, weight, name of the series, and face value.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is the third of the crime novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in The Strand Magazine from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set largely on Dartmoor in Devon in England's West Country and tells the story of an attempted murder inspired by the legend of a fearsome, diabolical hound of supernatural origin. Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson investigate the case. This was the first appearance of Holmes since his apparent death in "The Final Problem", and the success of The Hound of the Baskervilles led to the character's eventual revival.
One of the most famous stories ever written, in 2003, the book was listed as number 128 of 200 on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's "best-loved novel." In 1999, it was listed as the top Holmes novel, with a perfect rating from Sherlockian scholars of 100.
Years - Dog Lunar Chinese Calendar
14 February 1934 - 3 February 1935 / Wood Dog
2 February 1946 - 21 January 1947 / Fire Dog
18 February 1958 - 7 February 1959 / Earth Dog
6 February 1970 - 26 January 1971 / Metal Dog
25 January 1982 - 12 February 1983 / Water Dog
10 February 1994 - 30 January 1995 / Wood Dog
29 January 2006 - 17 February 2007 / Fire Dog
16 February 2018 - 4 February 2019 / Earth Dog
2 February 2030 - 22 January 2031 / Metal Dog
22 January 2042 - 9 February 2043 / Water Dog