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Hong Kong Year of the Monkey

1980 One Thousand Dollar

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The Chinese Year of the Monkey is commemorated by this one thousand dollar gold coin issued by the Royal Mint. It was struck in 1980 and represents the ninth animal in the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The obverse shows an effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, right-facing and crowned. It was designed by Arnold Machin and has the legend QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND 1980. The reverse shows a depiction of a monkey by Elizabeth Haddon-Care with Chinese symbols and the legend HONG KONG 1980. There was also a gold proof coin struck in the same year.

The Chinese Zodiac is composed of 12 animals arranged in order from the rat through to the pig. The order was established by a race between the animals, thousands of years ago orchestrated by the Jade Emperor of China. The 12-year sequence features coin releases marking the Year of the Rat, Year of the Mouse, Year of the Ox, Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Dragon, Year of the Snake, Year of the Horse, Year of the Goat, Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rooster, Year of the Dog and Year of the Pig.

There are believed to be particular traits of people born under different signs of the Chinese zodiac. If you are born in the Year of the Monkey, you are thought to be smart, quick-witted and adventurous. They are also thought to be crafty, mischevious and great practical jokers. Their lucky numbers are 4 and 9 whilst their lucky colours are white and gold.