Buddhist Guardian Lions, commonly known as Foo Dogs, appeared in China during the Han dynasty. With their protective powers the lions watched over imperial palaces, temples and tombs. Popularity of Guardian Lions has risen steeply since then, and they are nowadays commonly seen guarding entrances to hotels, restaurants and people’s homes. The lions are usually shown in pairs with a male lion resting a paw on sphere and the female lion restraining a cub.

Akin to CIT’s popular Laughing Buddha coins, the Chinese Guardian Lions are minted in black proof smartminting© relief with incredible detail and depth. The lions themselves are bright silver with greyscale printing accentuating the statues shape. The lion pair is presented in a silky black collector’s box.