...Macau, Bank of China - 10 Patacas Year of the Rat 2020

中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區
(Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China)
(Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China)

中國銀行澳門分行

(Banco da China, filial de Macau)

(Bank of China Macau Branch)

 Currency: Pataca (MOP)

 鼠🐀年

 

This is the latest issue and the ninth note of the Chinese Zodiac series of banknote of 10 patacas, first started in 2012 with the Year of the Dragon. In 2020, Chinese New Year was celebrated on 25.01.2020 and was the Year of the Rat. According to the Chinese Zodiac cycle, the Rat is the first animal listed on the 12 year cycle. According to the Chinese, those who were born in the Rat year are generally considered to be forthright, honest, easy to get along, hard working, thrifty and generous too.

 

In addition to Bank of China Macau Branch, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) also released one for the same series. Only two commercial banks in Macau have the licenses to issue legal tender banknotes. Bank of China Macau Branch has been issuing banknotes in Macau since 1995 whilst the BNU first took up the responsible since 1905.

 

This is the latest issue and the ninth note of the Chinese Zodiac series of banknotes of 10 patacas, first started in 2012 with the Year of the Dragon. In 2020, Chinese New Year was celebrated on 25.01.2020 and was the Year of the Rat. According to the Chinese Zodiac cycle, the Rat is the first animal listed on the 12 year cycle. According to the Chinese, those who were born in the Rat year are generally considered to be forthright, honest, easy to get along with, hard working, thrifty and generous too.

 

In addition to the Bank of China Macau Branch, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) also released one for the same series. Only two commercial banks in Macau have the licenses to issue legal tender banknotes. The Bank of China Macau Branch has been issuing banknotes in Macau since 1995 whilst the BNU first took up the responsibility in 1905.

Like those previously issued Chinese Zodiac banknotes series issued, registration for the notes started on 22.03.2021 until 09.04.2021. The announcement for the release of these two notes was made on 12.03.2021. Only those who were residing in Macau can apply for the notes and each application is restricted to 25 pieces each per bank. For some reasons, some people can get more than the official quotas. The notes were released on 04.05.2021. Apart from the two issuing banks, the notes were also distributed via 7 other commercial banks in Macau. Closing date for the collection was on 23.07.2021.

 

Like those previously issued, the design on the front is the Rat Zodiac and also the first Chinese Zodiac in Chinese with all 12 animals. The Chinese auspicious word 福 (Fu/Luck) is also printed on the top right-hand corner. On the back, it depicts the bank's main head office building in Macau with the image of the front entrance to the A-Ma temple (媽閣廟) together children celebrating the Chinese New Year and lighting firecrackers. On the left is the image of a Rat Zodiac in reverse. 

 

The A-Ma temple is a historical building and is a very famous temple in Macau. This temple was built in 1488 and is located in Sao Lourenco in the southwestern of the Macau peninsula. In 2005, it became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau.

 

The design for this note is very much the same as those released by BNU. The only differences are the bank's name and their respective brand logo, the Head Office building in Macau and the signature printed on the note. At a quick glance without looking at the name of the bank or brand, both notes look almost identical.

Signature - Li Guang (I believe this is his signature 李光, who is the General Manager of the BoC Macau Branch)

Dimensions - 138mm x 69mm

Ten Patacas

Dated 2020, Year of the Rat

Bank of China Head Office building in Macau, A-Ma temple (媽閣廟) together children celebrating the Chinese New Year and lighting fire crackers. On the left is the image of a Rat Zodiac in reverse

This is an algorithm used in ancient China to record the year, month, day, and time. It is called "ganzhi". Heavenly Stem: A, B, C, D, W, H, G, Xin, Ren, Kui Earthly Branch: Zi Chou Yin Mao Chen Si Noon Noon Shen You Xu Hai

 

E.g: 2019 = the year of Jihai 2020 = Geng Zi Year 2021 = Xin Chou Year 2022 = Renyin Year... All rounds are 60 years old, and they are called "Yijiazi". 

 

Official announcement for the release:

Online registration for the exchange of the Rat and Ox Zodiac banknotes and the 20th Anniversary of the Return to the Motherland of Macau banknotes commencing next Monday March 12th, 2021. The joint online registration for the exchange of the Rat and Ox Zodiac banknotes, together with the previously issued 20th Anniversary of the Return to the Motherland of Macau banknotes, will commence next Monday. The tentative exchange quantity for the Rat and Ox Zodiac banknotes of each Issuing Bank is 25 pieces, making a total of 100 pieces of the two types of Zodiac Banknotes from the two Issuing Banks. On the other hand, the tentative exchange quantity for the 20th Anniversary of the Return to the Motherland of Macao banknotes previously issued by each Issuing Bank is 3 pieces, making a total of 6 notes from the two Issuing Banks. Each Macao resident can only conduct a single registration for the exchange of the two types of Zodiac banknotes and the 20th Anniversary of the Return to the Motherland of Macau banknotes, with no provision for the separate exchange of any one type of note. Depending on the final number of registrants, the actual quantity to be exchanged may be adjusted and will be announced after the end of the registration period. Starting from 9:00am on 22 March 2021 and until 6:00pm on 9 April 2021, residents holding valid Macao identity cards can log onto the joint registration system of the two Issuing Banks via the website of Monetary Authority of Macao (https://www.amcm.gov.mo/static/banknotes/terms_pt.html) to conduct a one-time online registration. Apart from the two Issuing Banks - Bank of China Macau Branch (BOC) and Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), residents can also select other exchange locations including the selected branches of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macao) Limited, Tai Fung Bank Limited, OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited, Luso International Banking Limited, Banco Comercial de Macao, China Construction Bank Macau Branch and China Guangfa Bank Macau Branch. While registrants should retain their registration records, they can also log onto the online registration system for inquiry of their confirmed registration details. The exchange period is between 4 May 2021 and 23 July 2021. Registrants should bring along their valid ID card and proceed in person to exchange for the notes at the chosen location on the selected day. In respect of the note exchange conducted by authorized representatives, the latter will need to bring along his/her original ID card and submit the following documents: 

 

1. Representative’s photocopy of ID card bearing his / her signature; 

2. Authorization form downloaded from AMCM’s website signed by the registrant; 

3. Registrant’s photocopy of Macao ID card bearing his / her signature. At designated branches of BOC and BNU, assistance will be provided to the elderly for the conduct of the online registration process. For enquiries, please call our hotline: 2856 5071 / 2856 5072, or browse our website (https://www.amcm.gov.mo/static/banknotes/terms_pt.html).

  

Lunar Chinese New Year 12-year full cycle

 

23 January 2012 to 9 February 2013 - Dragon

10 February 2013 to 30 January 2014 - Snake

31 January 2014 to 18 February 2015 - Horse

19 February 2015 to 07 February 2016 - Goat

08 February 2016 to 27 January 2017 - Monkey

28 January 2017 to 15 February 2018 - Rooster

16 January 2018 to 04 February 2019 - Dog

05 February 2019 to 24 January 2020 - Pig

25 January 2020 to 11 February 2021 - Rat

12 February 2021 to 31 January 2022 - Ox

01 February 2022 to 21 January 2023 - Tiger

22 January 2023 to 09 February 2024 - Rabbit