ULAN BATOR, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Mongolia, the country's central bank, on Friday issued a silver coin to celebrate the traditional Chinese Year of the Dog.

The commemorative coin depicts a Mongolian bankhar, a mastiff formerly kept by nomadic herders.

The coin with a 38.61-mm diameter is priced at 150,000 tugriks (63 U.S. dollars).

The Year of the Dog begins on Feb. 16, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Since 1972, the Bank of Mongolia has been issuing gold, silver and bronze coins depicting the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, as well as endangered animals, Olympic athletes and other famous people.