The government announced yesterday that it will double the number of the new MOP10 (US$1.25) Year of the Dragon commemorative notes to 40 million units.

The move comes after hundreds of people had been gathering since last week outside branches of BNU and Bank of China across the city waiting for the notes.

The flood of clients affected the normal services of both banks, the only two note-issuing institutions in Macau.

Meanwhile, there is news of a “black market” where the Year of the Dragon bills can be worth several times their face value.

The bills are considered auspicious by Chinese people and are the first of a series to be issued yearly until 2023, ahead of the Lunar New Year and dedicated to each animal of the Chinese Zodiac.