To complete the zodiac set of 12 coins, San Marino issued the last 3 coins in 2021.
The last set consists of the Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces -coins.
Each of the 2021 coins has a mintage of 16000 brass coins.
The Capricorn-coin (It: capricorno)
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| Capricorn - coin 2021 RSM |
The Aquarius-coin (It: acquario)
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| Aquarius - coin 2021 RSM |
The Pisces-coin (It: pesci)
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| Pisces - coin 2021 RSM |
With these 3 coins, the set is of western zodiac sign coins is completed.
to be continued...
The set of Zodiac coins of San Marino, coninued in 2020 with 3 additional coins: Libra, Scorpio and Saggitarius. Each of the 2020 coins has a mintage of 16000 brass pieces
The first coin dated 2020, is the Libra-coin (It: bilancia).
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| 2020 Libra - coin RSM |
The second coin, is the Scorpio-coin (It: scoprione)
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| 2020 Scorpio - coin RSM |
The third and last coin for 2020 is the Sagittarius-coin (It: sagittario)
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| 2020 Sagittarius - coin RSM |
At the moment of wrinting this article, the 2020-coins, were still available on the website of the San Marino post, at the price of the face value. Each of the coins were delivered in a hard plastic holder.
The 2019 and 2018 coins were already sold out.
to be continued...
Zodiac signs will always be a popular topic on stamps.
There are 12 (originally 13) zodiac signs in a year, according western astrology, and 12 animal signs in a 12-year cycle, according the eastern astrology.
In 2023, Mongolia issued two sheetlets, with one stamp each.
One is dedicated to western astrology, showing the 12 signs, around a circular stamp.
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| 1st sheet - 12 western zodiac signs |
In the middle of the circle with the 12 western zodiac signs, we find a round stamp, where the symbol for each sign is placed under the according picture above.
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| round shaped stamp with 12 zodiac symbols |
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| detail gemini |
The second sheetlet shows the 12 animals in the easter zodiac circle.
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| 2nd sheet - 12 asian zodiac signs |
Here we find the more older symbols, that described someone's personalty based on the year of birth (starting around 4 February each 'western' year).
The word 'zodiac' is derived from the ancient Greek : zōdiakòs kýklos (ζῳδιακός κύκλος), which literally means 'circle of animals'.
This circle is binary composed, as each year is alternately male or female.
The 'male' years are Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey and Dog, where the 'female' years are Ox, Hare (Rabbit), Snake, Sheep, Hen (Rooster) and Pig.
In the middle, we find a round shaped stamp.
Each of the twelve animals surround the central stamp. The animals are depicted as human forms, with the head of an animal.
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| sheet detail : Rabbit - Dragon and Snake |
For the next years, here are the 12 zodiac signs, after that, the cycle restarts.
| Jan 22 2023–Feb 09 2024 | Rabbit |
| Feb 10 2024–Jan 28 2025 | Dragon |
| Jan 29 2025–Feb 16 2026 | Snake |
| Feb 17 2026–Feb 05 2027 | Horse |
| Feb 06 2027–Jan 25 2028 | Goat |
| Jan 26 2028–Feb 12 2029 | Monkey |
| Feb 13 2029–Feb 02 2030 | Rooster |
| Feb 03 2030–Jan 22 2031 | Dog |
| Jan 23 2031–Feb 10 2032 | Pig |
| Feb 11 2032–Jan 30 2033 | Rat |
| Jan 31 2033–Feb 18 2034 | Ox |
| Feb 19 2034–Feb 07 2035 | Tiger |
The Swedish post has a long tradition of very nicely designed stamps.
Despite that, or maybe because that, they also emitted a set of 12 stamps in 1999, dedicated to the zodiac signs.
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| Zodiac signs Sweden 1999 A |
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| Zodiac signs Sweden 1999 B |
Each stamp is triangular, and six of them form a hexagon.
The colours are alternatively light blue and brown/yellow, on a dark blue background.
All stamps mention 'Brev Inrikes' which means the stamp is ment for use within Sweden only.
On each stamp, we find the name in Swedish as well.
Note that the indefinite article in Swedish, is placed behind the word.
| Constellation | English Name | Swedish Name | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | the Ram | Väduren | Mar. 21–Apr. 19 |
| Taurus | the Bull | Oxen | Apr. 20–May 20 |
| Gemini | the Twins | Tvillingarna | May 21–June 21 |
| Cancer | the Crab | Kräftan | June 22–July 22 |
| Leo | the Lion | Lejonet | July 23–Aug. 22 |
| Virgo | the Virgin/the Maiden | Junkfrun | Aug. 23–Sept. 22 |
| Libra | the Balance / the Scales | Vågen | Sept. 23–Oct. 23 |
| Scorpio | the Scorpion | Skorpionen | Oct. 24–Nov. 21 |
| Sagittarius | the Archer / the Centaur | Skytten | Nov. 22–Dec. 21 |
| Capricorn | the Goat(-fish hybrid) | Stenbocken | Dec. 22–Jan. 19 |
| Aquarius | the Water Bearer | Vattumannen | Jan. 20–Feb. 18 |
| Pisces | the Fishes | Fiskarna | Feb. 19–Mar. 20 |
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| Gemini (Tvillingarna) |
