Royal Mint releases commemorative coins in celebration of Chinese Year of Monkey

A staff member of the Royal Mint checks a coin featuring the playful figure of a monkey to celebrate the forthcoming Chinese New Year at a workshop in Llantrisant, Britain, Feb.1, 2016. [Xinhua/Wu Congsi]

The Royal Mint released a range of commemorative coins on Feb 5 featuring the playful figure of a monkey to celebrate the forthcoming Chinese New Year on Feb. 8.

Produced specially 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 (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 British 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.