The Year of the Monkey coin is the ninth in the highly collectible Perth Mint Australian Lunar Series, which encompasses both gold and silver coins. Some sizes are limited production coins, such as the one-ounce Gold Monkeys, while others are unlimited production coins. See coin sizes, denominations, and dimensions. The limited production coins are favorites in the collectible market. The obverse of the 2004 Monkey coins carries the effigy of a mature Queen Elizabeth, the third official likeness of the Queen during her reign. A younger likeness graces the obverses of the 1996 Mouse, the 1997 Ox, and the 1998 Tiger. In 1998, Buckingham Palace released the third official image of the Queen, and Australia began using it on its coins in 1999. The release of the new effigy resulted in the first three coins in the Lunar Series (the Mouse, the Ox, and the Tiger) carrying a young likeness of Queen Elizabeth, while the remaining nine coins carry a mature Queen Elizabeth.
Year 2004 Gold Monkey Coins
Australian Lunar Series Gold Monkey coins come in eight sizes: one kilo, ten ounce, two ounce, one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, one-tenth ounce, and one-twentieth ounce, with monetary denominations of $3000, $1000, $200, $100, $50, $25, $15, and $5 respectively. The one ounce and smaller coins are limited production coins. See coin sizes, denominations, and dimensions for more details.
Of the Gold Monkey Coins, the limited production one ounce coins appeal to coin collectors and investors. One ounce gold coins always seem to have greater appeal in the collectible market. The smaller coins are used more often for jewelry.
Year 2004 Silver Monkey Coins
Australian Lunar Series Silver Monkey coins come in seven sizes: one kilo, one-half kilo, ten ounce, five ounce, two ounce, and one-half ounce, with monetary denominations of $30, $15, $10, $8, $2, $1, fifty-cents respectively. The one ounce and half ounce silver Monkey coins are limited production coins. See coin sizes, denominations, and dimensions for more details.
Although one ounce Lunar Series gold coins sell at prices comparable to the popular one ounce bullion coins such as Gold Eagles, the one ounce Lunar Series silver coins carry higher premiums than one ounce Silver Eagles. The U.S. Mint markets its Silver Eagles toward investors, but the one ounce Lunar Series silver coins are directed toward the collectible market. Nearly all coins aimed at the collectible market carry higher premiums than bullion coins.
Year of the Monkey Traits
People born in the Year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the cycle. Clever, skillful, and flexible, they are remarkably inventive and original and can solve the most difficult problems with ease. There are few fields in which Monkey people wouldn't be successful, but they have a habit of being too agreeable, which make them not always great leaders.
Monkey year people want to do things now, and if they cannot get started immediately they become discouraged and sometimes leave their projects. Although good at making decisions, they tend to look down on others. Having common sense, Monkey people have a deep desire for knowledge and have excellent memories. Monkey people are strong willed, but their anger cools quickly. Monkeys are most compatible with Dragons and Mouses.
Other Monkey years include 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, and 1908.
