Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys, Coin from Somalia - detailed information

Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys, Coin from Somalia
CoinGold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys

The Somali Shilling is the official currency of Somalia. Due to inflation though, regular cash circulation in the country is handled not by coins but mostly by banknotes and foreign currency.

The country has also authorised the Bavarian Central Mint to issue bullion coins under its jurisdiction. The African Wildlife Series features a new design every year and has become very popular with collectors and bullion investors worldwide. The coins are in standard bullion sizes, including a very small one twenty-fifth of a troy ounce of gold format - designated as 1/25 oz Au, where Au is abbreviated from Aurum, the Latin word for gold.

The image of the three monkeys covering their eyes, ears and mouth originates from a Buddhist proverb and symbolises the ideal attitude toward evil.

"o see nothing, to hear nothing, to say nothing". This proverb has its origins in an ancient Buddhist legend. In Japanese it goes: "Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru". The verb's negative form - zaru - is phonetically similar to the Japanese word for monkey, saru. This signifies that all the wisdom in this world is represented by three monkeys covering each others ears, mouth and eyes.

This image dates back to the 17th century and quickly attained popularity around the world. The extent to which the meaning of the Three Wise Monkeys has changed over time is remarkable. The statement "I won't look, won't listen and won't speak", or more accurately "complete apathy", is now understood to symbolise ignorance and the absence of courage to stand up for one's beliefs. Yet, originally the three monkeys stood for exactly the opposite: an absolute and perfect exposure to all evil. In Asia, this is still how the symbol is viewed. The Buddhist teaching refers to: "See no evil, hear no evil, say no evil". Needless to say that the three chimpanzees on the gold coin represent the eastern tradition: Avoid all evil!

MintB. H. Mayer Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 25,000
Obverse
Somalia / Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys - obverse photo

Within a plain border, the reverse of the coin displays the Coat of Arms of Somalia, featuring a shield (its blue colour indicated in "heraldic hatching" by thin horizontal lines), in the centre of which is a five-pointed star. The shield is surmounted by a decorated emblem with five heads, the with two lateral ones halved. The shield is borne from the sides by two cheetahs stepping on spears and facing each other under the lower point of the shield, along with two palm leaves, which are interlaced with a white ribbon.

Around above, the name of the country in English: SOMALI REPUBLIC. Around below, the face value 4000 SHILLINGS.

Obverse Inscription SOMALI REPUBLIC 4000 SHILLINGS
Reverse
Somalia / Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin shows a depiction of three monkeys - one has covered its years with its hands, the other one its mouth and the third one its eyes.

Around above, the inscription THE THREE WISE MONKEYS. The date of issue, 2006, is around below.

Reverse Inscription THE THREE WISE MONKEYS 2006
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

The coin was struck by B.H. Mayer for CIT Coin Invest.
CIT Item ID: 22259

Advertising
The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
See also
All (18) coins of type: Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce (1/25 oz)
Coin NameMintageSymbolLegend
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2002 Tutankhamun 25,000 Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2002
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2004 Julius Caesar unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2004
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2005 Maria Theresia unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2005
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys 25,000 Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 4000 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2011 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2011 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2012 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2012 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2013 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2013 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2014 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2014 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2015 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2015 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2016 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2016 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2017 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2017 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2018 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2018 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2019 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2019 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2020 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2021 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2021 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2022 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2022 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2023 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2023 50 SHILLINGS
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2024 African Wildlife - Elephant unknown Coat of Arms of Somalia SOMALI REPUBLIC 2024 50 SHILLINGS
Advertising
Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online
Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online
My Collection
Please sign up and/or log in.
You will then be able to manage your collection and record whether you have or want this coin.
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys: Details
CountrySomalia
CurrencySomali Shilling
PeriodSecond Shilling (1990 - present)
Coin TypeGold Twenty-fifth Ounce (1/25 oz)
Issued2006
SymbolCoat of Arms of Somalia
Face Value4000 (x Shilling - Second Shilling)
Total Mintage25,000
CurrentYes
Material0.9999 Gold
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size13.9200 mm
Thickness0.5400 mm
Mass1.2440 g
OCC IDYRVP-EVRC-DQQW-EDQG
Share or Bookmark this Page
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys: Photos
ImageDetails
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys: Photo Coin, Somalia, Four Thousand Shillings Gold 2006 Monkeys / thumbnail Coin, Somalia, Four Thousand Shillings Gold 2006 Monkeys
Copyright: CIT Coin Invest
Source
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2006 Three Wise Monkeys: Photo Coin, Somalia, Four Thousand Shillings Gold 2006 Monkeys / thumbnail Coin, Somalia, Four Thousand Shillings Gold 2006 Monkeys
Copyright: CIT Coin Invest
Source