Culture
19:56, 19-Dec-2018
"Year of the Pig" dollar: Lucky money for Chinese Lunar New Year unveiled in U.S.
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19:03, 22-Dec-2018
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The Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the United States has introduced its "lucky money" collection - "$1 Year of the Pig 2019" on Tuesday, in honor of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.
The product is designed with decorative Chinese symbolism, packaged in a typical "red envelope," also known as "red packet, " which is usually given to kids during the Spring Festival.
It features an uncirculated one-dollar Federal Reserve note. It has a serial number beginning with "8888," as "8" is considered lucky in China.
Director of Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the U.S. Leonard Olijar shows the lucky red packet in his hands. /VCG Photo
Director of Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the U.S. Leonard Olijar shows the lucky red packet in his hands. /VCG Photo
The Year of the Pig occupies the final position in the repeating 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The pig, an important animal in the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, stands for good luck, abundance and wealth.
"For us the lucky money every year is to recognize the contribution of the Chinese to the American culture, and we understand it is a tradition to give new money in the new year and we want to able them to do that and this enables us to learn a little bit of their culture as well," says Leonard Olijar, director of US Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the nation's sole producer of U.S. paper currency. It started designing and producing "lucky money" for the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2000.