In 2016 to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Monkey, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue British Lunar Monkey £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid fine .999 Silver weighing one ounce of fine pure Silver Certified Slabbed and Graded by PCGS as PR69 DCAM.
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 Monkeys 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.
Years of Birth:
2 February 1908 – 21 January 1909: Earth
Monkey
20 February 1920 – 7 February 1921: Metal
Monkey
6 February 1932 – 25 January 1933: Water
Monkey
25 January 1944 – 12 February 1945: Wood
Monkey
12 February 1956 – 30 January 1957: Fire
Monkey
30 January 1968 – 16 February 1969: Earth
Monkey
16 February 1980 – 4 February 1981: Metal
Monkey
4 February 1992 – 22 January 1993: Water
Monkey
22 January 2004 – 8 February 2005: Wood
Monkey
8 February 2016 – 27 January 2017: Fire
Monkey
26 January 2028 – 12 February 2029: Earth
Monkey
12 February 2040 – 31 January 2041: Metal
Monkey
1 February 2052 – 18 February 2053: Water
Monkey
Lucky Numbers: 1
, 7 and 8
Lucky Colours: White, Gold and Blue
Lucky Flowers: Chrysanthemum , Alliums