Year of the Horse 2025 UK brilliant

The animal that rules the year 2026 according to the Chinese zodiac is the horse. The horse also dominates the commemorative coin minted from base metals by the British Royal Mint.

The English have a deep relationship with horses that goes back centuries. The ancient Celts and, after them, the Norman knights saw horses not only as a means of transport or an aid in battle, but also as a symbol of prestige and social status. The Tudor monarchs banned their export, encouraged their import, and ordered the nobility and church dignitaries to own a certain number of riding horses. In the British Isles, slow knightly horses, lively horses that served as postal and hunting horses, and easily controllable horses that were used in carriage transport were bred. Today, the most famous breed is the English thoroughbred, which has become synonymous with speed and elegance, as well as the islanders' love for their noble animal companions...

A thoroughbred on stone pavement in front of stables from the early 18th century dominates the reverse side of the coin, which represents a symbiosis between British and Chinese traditions. The composition is completed by the English inscription YEAR OF THE HORSE and the corresponding Chinese character. The obverse side of the coin features the attributes of the issuer – i.e. the nominal value of 5 POUNDS (GBP), a portrait of King Charles III, the text "CHARLES III D G REX F D" (Charles III, by the grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith) and the year of issue 2026.

An integral part of the coin is special packaging with motifs of the Chinese Year of the Horse (in English).