In 2016 to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Monkey, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue British Lunar Monkey £100 One Hundred Pound Gold Proof Coin struck in solid fine .9999 Gold weighing one ounce of fine pure Gold.
The reverse designed by Wuon-Gean Ho depicts a Rhesus Monkey while the obverse features the Fifth Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark . These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.
The monkeys in Wuon-Gean’s design are inspired by the Rhesus Monkey, part of the ‘Old World’ family of monkeys originating in Europe, Africa and Asia. Adaptable and intelligent, the rhesus monkey can thrive in mountains, forests, desert and grasslands and in China alone, occupies a wide geographic range, from Beijing all the way south down to Hong Kong.
Rhesus Monkey's and humans shared a common ancestor about 25 million years ago. They are the first of the Old World monkeys to have their genome, or genetic material, sequenced in 2007, which has been an invaluable insight into the evolution of primates, helping us have a better understanding of human health.
They are extremely intelligent, sociable and family oriented, and are equally good at climbing and swimming.” Rhesus Monkey's are sociable creatures, living among communities or ‘troops’, so Wuon-Gean has depicted two monkeys in her composition.
The monkeys were inspired by the artist’s playful niece and nephew, and are shown leaping through the air, conveying unerring balance, freedom and flight.
Royal Mint Product Code: UKM16GP
Limited Edition Presentation of only 858 Worldwide
Finished to Royal Mint's Proof Standard
Minted in solid 999.9 Gold Weighing One-Ounce of pure Gold
