Gold Half Ounce 2016 Year of the Monkey, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian half-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1/2 oz and designated with Au for "gold") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints authorised to strike legal tender: the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint which only makes collector and bullion coins, as well as other bullion products.

Both mints endeavour to create coins with attractive designs, and to introduce new designs and themes often, in order to raise the numismatic value of the coins over the value of previous metal used.

This coin is part of the Perth Mint's Lunar II Series, and marks the Chinese Lunar Year of the Monkey 2016 (8 February 2016 - 27 January 2017).

The mint says about it:
In 2016 we are celebrating the ninth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, the monkey. The birth dates for people ruled by the Chinese Lunar monkey include 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, and 2016. Those born under the influence of this sign are said to be intelligent, quick-witted, optimistic, ambitious, and adventurous.