What is the reason the golden coin turtle is so expensive?
The golden coin turtle is also known as the three-striped box turtle, the broken-plate turtle, the golden-headed turtle, and so on. In China it is found in a few southern areas such as Hainan and Guangdong, and it is also found in some places abroad, but the numbers are few. Among box turtles, the golden coin turtle is not the most expensive species, but it is the hottest one on the market. Let us take a look below at why the golden coin turtle is so expensive!
Just how expensive is the golden coin turtle?
The prices of golden coin turtles are all calculated in tens of thousands of yuan. Hainan golden coin turtle hatchlings are about 20,000 to 25,000 yuan each, Vietnamese golden coin turtle hatchlings are around 30,000 yuan each, mature male Vietnamese turtles with a rice-colored plastron are around 380,000 yuan, black-plastron male golden coin turtles are around 250,000 yuan, Hainan-strain male golden coin turtles are around 180,000 yuan, and Guangdong-strain golden coin turtles are around 120,000 yuan. According to the latest statistics from the Zhongshan Tortoise and Turtle Association, in 2013 a male golden coin turtle was priced at 300,000 yuan, while a female black-necked turtle reached as high as 160,000 yuan per jin.
What kinds of golden coin turtle are there?
1. Vietnamese-strain golden coin turtle: The Vietnamese-strain golden coin turtle is the most expensive, with a relatively large body. The head appears olive-colored, slightly bluish in the front part and light gray in the rear part, with obvious red neck, red face and red ear features. The flesh color is very red, and the shell color is also deep and red, with a "rice"-shaped plastron.
2. Hainan-strain golden coin turtle: The Hainan-strain golden coin turtle is the next most expensive, with a medium body size. The head appears golden yellow and has a distinctive liveliness. The flesh color is relatively red, but the head and neck tend toward white, with no red neck or red face, and the egg production is lower than that of the Vietnamese-strain golden coin turtle.
3. Guangdong-strain golden coin turtle: The Guangdong-strain golden coin turtle is the cheapest, with a flat, pale shell color and flesh color that is not red. The head color is golden yellow, with a white neck and white face, the top of the head is bluish yellow, and the back is dark brown with no radiating lines. The individual is on the small side and lays even fewer eggs, generally around 3.
Why is the golden coin turtle so expensive?
1. Scarce numbers: The wild population of the golden coin turtle is extremely scarce, and apart from deep mountains and old forests it has basically disappeared. In 1988 China listed the golden coin turtle as a national second-class protected wild animal. Things are precious when they are rare, and this is one of the main reasons for the high price.
2. Cancer prevention and disease treatment: In southern regions, the golden coin turtle has traditionally been regarded as a precious tonic, and it is widely said to prevent cancer and treat disease. Cancer is currently the number one killer, and the body is the capital of revolution, so preserving life is what matters most. Therefore, no matter how expensive it is, some people will still buy it.
3. Auspicious meaning: The golden coin turtle has a very auspicious meaning. Chinese people believe in feng shui theory, and ever since the three-striped box turtle came to be called the golden coin turtle, its value has multiplied. At the same time, turtles also represent longevity, so people like to keep golden coin turtles as pets.
4. Market speculation: A sharp rise in the price of the golden coin turtle is inevitably tied to market speculation, because there are not many golden coin turtle breeding farms and the price is completely controlled by merchants. Although the golden coin turtle's own value cannot be ruled out, speculation by merchants is also certain to be one of the factors behind its high price.