英文新闻：美国发行“吉利钱”庆祝春节到来

In celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the US Treasury¹ Department Tuesday unveiled 2 new Lucky Money products, “Year of the Rabbit” and “Lucky Lion.”

为了庆祝即将到来的春节，美国财政部于周二发行了两款“吉利钱”：“玉兔”和“金狮”。

In celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the US Treasury Department Tuesday unveiled 2 new Lucky Money products, “Year of the Rabbit” and “Lucky Lion.”
US Treasurer² Rosie Rios formally unveiled the newest additions to the Lucky Money Collection at a news conference at the Bureau of Engraving³ and Printing (BEP).

The “Year of the Rabbit” is one of the 12 zodiac（十二宫） symbols associated with the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This lucky money product is exquisitely（精致地） designed with decorative⁴ Chinese symbolism and is packaged in a red folder⁵ with gold foil.

The product features an un-circulated one-dollar note with a serial⁶ number beginning with “8888,” which is seen by many Chinese as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.

The “Lucky Lion” includes a $10 note with a serial number beginning with “8888.” This is the first time a Lucky Money product has featured a $10 note since the BEP introduced such kind of products in 2000.

The “Lucky Lion” is attractively presented in a decorative folder capturing the significance of Chinese numerology（命理学） and is encased（围住，包起） in a protective, clear, acid-free polymer sleeve.

“According to the legend, the lion is a symbol of strength and protects people from misfortune. It is also believed the shining light from the lantern guides the way toward prosperity and happiness,” said Rios.

Both products will be on sale starting Wednesday. The “Year of the Rabbit” is sold for $5.95 and only 88,888 will be available for sale. The “Lucky Lion” is limited to 8,888 and is available for the price of $28.88.

The Lucky Money products have been well received both domestically and internationally, with a total sales of around 1,000,000 since Y 2000, according to Treasury officials.