2023 Silver Black Unicorn

Celebrating the Power, Strength and Magic of the Black Unicorn!

Perfect, New 2023 Gold and Silver Black Unicorn Proofs from the China Mint!

Here you have the second release in the popular China Black Unicorn series.

For thousands of years, Unicorns have captured the hearts and imaginations of people in both Western and Eastern cultures, said to possess incredible strength and magical powers. And while modern depictions have fused the mythology of White and Black Unicorns until their only difference is color, that’s not how it was in the beginning, when depictions varied widely. Black Unicorns, considered to be the most powerful of all unicorns, have dark elements in Western culture and a divine, all-powerful image in Eastern folklore.

With this spectacular collectible, you’ve got the East/West Black Unicorn, bringing together the yin vs. the yang, the dark and foreboding vs. the divine and all-powerful—all aspects of Black Unicorn tradition.

Eastern Black Unicorns

Also known as a Black Qilin to the Chinese, the Black Unicorn is said to have first appeared in the garden of Huangdi, the third of ancient China’s mythological emperors, in 2697 BCE. It had a deer-like body, the tail of an ox, scales instead of fur, the horns of a dragon, and a lion-like head. It is believed that Black Unicorns are tied closely to the ruling Emperor and will only appear if an Emperor has ruled with honor, purity and great virtue. Some tales also say that a Black Unicorn brings good omens, offering serenity, success, protection, longevity or fertility to those to whom it reveals itself.

Western Black Unicorns

Unlike its Eastern brethren, a Western Black Unicorn is portrayed as a muscular creature with a more horse-like form, often associated with a strange contrast of tales—good and evil. In some stories, the Black Unicorn is a skillful hunter and predator that easily devours its prey. In these stories, the creature brings bad luck or bad intentions to those with whom it comes into contact. By contrast, Ancient Western cultures often linked Black Unicorns to freedom, good luck, and prosperity. Yin vs. yang, East vs. West, good vs. bad.

Struck in 99.9% Gold and Silver

These Black Unicorn Proofs are available struck in one ounce of 99.9% gold, or one kilo or two ounces of 99.9% fine silver. You can also choose a 3-Pc. Set consisting of all three sizes.

Gorgeous High Relief Imagery

Each piece features stunning high relief imagery portraying the yin and the yang, East and West, of the Black Unicorn on the reverse that seemingly leaps off the frosty proof surfaces! The reverse design also features two contrasting proof finishes—Reverse Proof surfaces on the Eastern Unicorn half and Traditional Proof surfaces on the Western Unicorn half. This image was made possible due to the painstaking process of carving the dramatic, intricate image on a plaster cast! That reverse design was created by esteemed China art designer Zhu Xihua, an artist renowned for his animal artwork. Mr. Zhu currently works for China’s Shanghai Mint.

The high relief obverse showcases China’s beautiful Hall of Prayer for Abundant Harvests in the Temple of Heaven (in Beijing).

Exquisite Top Quality Proof Finish

Proofs are struck to a much higher standard of beauty, quality, and craftsmanship than non-proofs. Proof planchets (blanks) are specially treated, hand-polished, and cleaned to ensure high-quality strikes, then fed into presses fitted with specially polished dies and struck at least twice, unlike non-proofs which are struck only once. The extra strikes give proofs a glamorous shine and make intricate, razor-sharp details of the design pop against polished, mirror-like fields. While non-proofs are struck on high-speed presses by the thousands, these Black Unicorn Proofs are individually struck by highly skilled artisans who are creating numismatic masterpieces.

Perfect, with First Day of Issue Designations

Collectors only want the best of the best for their collections, and so we’re offering these Black Unicorn Proofs certified by NGC as flawless Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) condition. Coins and proofs are graded on a 70-point scale, with a top 70 grade representing perfection, even under magnification. The Ultra Cameo (UC) designation means these proofs possess an intense frosted finish on both sides of the proof, with highly polished fields accenting the raised elements.

In addition to being flawless and Ultra Cameo, your proofs will arrive NGC-certified with a First Day of Issue (FDI) designation, which means these proofs have been received for grading within the first 24 hours of release from the mint.

Lucky Low Mintages. Very Low.

Mintages for these Black Unicorn Proofs are severely limited. Just 188 One-Ounce Gold Black Unicorn Proofs were approved for release. Just 388 Kilo Silver Black Unicorn Proofs were approved for release. And just 1,888 Two-Ounce Silver Black Unicorn Proofs were approved for release. According to Chinese folklore, the number “8” is the luckiest number and is associated with wealth, so these are “lucky” mintages. With so few proofs available, the collectors that secure one will indeed be “lucky”.

It will only take a quick look at these proofs to see why they’ll hold a treasured spot in your collection!

2023 Gold & Silver East/West Black Unicorn Proof 3-Pc. Set PF70 UC FDI

One-Ounce 99.9% Pure Gold
One Kilo of 99.9% Fine Silver
Two-Ounces of 99.9% Fine Silver
Handsome Dual Proof / Reverse Proof surfaces
Flawless PF70 UC Grade
Certified FDI by NGC
Deluxe Black Unicorn Presentation Case with Match-Numbered Mint Certificates for all three Proofs
Limited Availability

2023 One-Ounce Gold East/West Black Unicorn Proof PF70 UC FDI

One Ounce of 99.9% Gold
Handsome Dual Proof / Reverse Proof surfaces
NGC-Certified as Perfect PF70 UC
Certified FDI by NGC
Deluxe Black Unicorn Presentation Case
Only 188 Approved for Worldwide Release
Limited Availability

2023 Kilo Silver East/West Black Unicorn Proof PF70 UC FDI

One Kilo of 99.9% Fine Silver
Handsome Dual Proof / Reverse Proof surfaces
NGC-Certified as Perfect PF70 UC
Certified FDI by NGC
Deluxe Black Unicorn Presentation Case
Only 388 Approved for Worldwide Release
Limited Availability

2023 Two-Ounce Silver East/West Black Unicorn Proof PF70 UC FDI

Two-Ounces of 99.9% Fine Silver
Handsome Dual Proof / Reverse Proof surfaces
NGC-Certified as Perfect PF70 UC
Certified FDI by NGC
Only 1,888 Approved for Worldwide Release
Limited Availability