Royal Mint Launches Commemorative Coins Celebrating Chinese Year of the Monkey

The Royal Mint released a range of commemorative coins on Friday featuring the playful figure of a monkey to celebrate the forthcoming Chinese New Year on Feb. 8.

Produced specifically for Britain, the Royal Mint's commemorative lunar coins blend ancient Chinese tradition with British craftsmanship, and form part of the Royal Mint's Shengxiao (or Chinese zodiac) collection.

The Year of the Monkey coins have been designed by British-Chinese artist and printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho, who also designed coins for the 2015 Year of the Sheep and the 2014 Year of the Horse.

The 2016 Shengxiao collection sees the addition of a Britain kilo coin for the first time, Britain's largest commemorative coin, measuring 10 cm in diameter.

"A limited run of only eight kilo coins will be minted, as a reference to the fact that in Chinese culture, the number eight brings good fortune," said the Royal Mint.

Each lunar year is linked to one of 12 zodiac animals, whose traits are attributed to those born during that year.

The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting British coinage dating back over 1,000 years. It makes currency for over 60 countries across the world.