2004 1/2 Oz Australia Silver Lunar Monkey (Series I) - BU

Buyback price:  $28.72
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $29.13

Product ID: BST-0016072A16

Specifications

Year 2004
Precious Metal Type Silver
Bullion Coin Type Lunar
Format Coin
Country of Origin Australia
Brand/Mint Perth Mint
Mint Mark P - Perth
Purity 0.999
Weight 0.5 oz
Thickness (mm) 3.9 mm
Diameter (mm) 32.1 mm
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 2004 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Monkey (Series I)

The 2004 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Monkey is a half-troy-ounce silver coin struck in .999 fine silver by The Perth Mint as part of the original Australian Lunar Series I program. It carries legal tender status under Australian law and bears a face value denominated by the Commonwealth of Australia. This particular release commemorates the Year of the Monkey within the twelve-year Chinese Lunar calendar cycle.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, representing the standard collectible grade for the Series I Lunar releases. The Monkey is among the more recognizable entries in the series and continues to attract consistent interest from both collectors and silver buyers familiar with Perth Mint craftsmanship.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched its Australian Lunar Series I in 1996, beginning with the Year of the Mouse and completing the twelve-year cycle in 2007 with the Year of the Pig. Each coin in the series features a unique reverse design corresponding to the animal of that year, making the complete run a natural focus for collectors building a full set. The series was issue

Overview of the 2004 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Monkey (Series I)

The 2004 1/2 oz Australia Silver Lunar Monkey is a half-troy-ounce silver coin struck in .999 fine silver by The Perth Mint as part of the original Australian Lunar Series I program. It carries legal tender status under Australian law and bears a face value denominated by the Commonwealth of Australia. This particular release commemorates the Year of the Monkey within the twelve-year Chinese Lunar calendar cycle.

We carry this coin in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, representing the standard collectible grade for the Series I Lunar releases. The Monkey is among the more recognizable entries in the series and continues to attract consistent interest from both collectors and silver buyers familiar with Perth Mint craftsmanship.

History and Background

The Perth Mint launched its Australian Lunar Series I in 1996, beginning with the Year of the Mouse and completing the twelve-year cycle in 2007 with the Year of the Pig. Each coin in the series features a unique reverse design corresponding to the animal of that year, making the complete run a natural focus for collectors building a full set. The series was issued in multiple sizes, including fractional options like this half-ounce format, to broaden accessibility across different buyer profiles.

The Perth Mint itself has operated continuously since 1899 and remains one of the most respected sovereign minting institutions in the world. Originally established as a branch of the Royal Mint of Great Britain, it has operated as a statutory authority of the Western Australian government since 1970. The Lunar series helped establish Perth as a leader in themed bullion coinage and built the foundation for the successful Series II program that followed.

The 2004 release falls near the midpoint of the Series I run, a period when collector interest in the program had grown substantially and mintage management at Perth was becoming more deliberate. Demand for individual dates in the series, particularly in smaller fractional sizes, has historically been more concentrated than demand for full-ounce versions.

Design and Aesthetics

The reverse of this coin features a detailed depiction of a monkey, rendered with the fine engraving precision The Perth Mint is known for. The design captures the character of the animal in a naturalistic composition, accompanied by the year of issue and Chinese characters denoting the Lunar year. The overall layout reflects the series' consistent attention to thematic storytelling within a compact format.

The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the standard portrait used on Australian coinage during this period. The inscription identifies the issuing authority and the coin's face value, while the portrait itself is struck with the fine detail typical of Perth Mint production. Together, the two sides create a coin that reads clearly as both a sovereign issue and a collectible release tied to a specific cultural tradition.

The Brilliant Uncirculated finish gives the surfaces a bright, clean appearance with no wear. Relief elements are crisp, and the fields retain the clarity expected from coins that have not entered general circulation. The half-ounce format allows for a compact diameter while maintaining enough surface area to appreciate the design in full.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At half a troy ounce, this coin occupies a practical middle ground between the full-ounce standard and smaller fractional denominations. The lower per-unit price point makes it more accessible for buyers who want exposure to a specific Lunar year without committing to the higher cost of a one-ounce piece. It also suits collectors who are building date sets across the Series I program and prefer consistency in size.

Fractional silver coins typically carry a higher premium per ounce than their full-sized counterparts, which reflects the additional production cost relative to metal content. For buyers focused on the collectible appeal of the Lunar series rather than pure silver content, this tradeoff is generally well understood and acceptable.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Every coin produced by The Perth Mint undergoes strict quality control processes during production, with weight and purity verified against the stated specifications. The .999 fine silver standard is consistent across the Series I Lunar program, and the Perth Mint's reputation for precision minting provides a strong baseline for confidence in this product's specifications.

We verify authenticity, weight, and purity across the products we handle, and our authorized dealer relationships with PCGS and NGC provide additional options for buyers who want third-party certification. As an ANA and NCBA member, we operate within industry standards that reinforce our commitment to product integrity. For a coin of this age and collectible significance, professional grading is worth considering for condition-sensitive buyers, and we can facilitate that process.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated denotes a coin that has not entered general circulation and retains its original mint-struck surfaces. No wear is present, though light contact marks from the minting and handling process may occasionally be visible under magnification. This is the standard condition designation for Perth Mint Lunar releases and represents what most collectors expect when acquiring Series I coins outside of a graded slab.

Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to preserve surface integrity during transit. Standard tube packaging for this coin format typically holds twenty coins, and larger quantities ship accordingly in sealed tubes. If you are purchasing a single coin, it will be delivered in a flip that keeps it secure and ready for handling or storage. We take packaging seriously as part of delivering coins in the condition described.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for this coin reflects both the current silver spot price and the premium associated with its collectible status within the Lunar Series I program. Unlike generic silver rounds or modern bullion coins produced in large quantities, Series I Lunar coins in fractional sizes carry premiums that are influenced by collector demand, date-specific scarcity, and the overall interest in completing full twelve-year sets.

The Perth Mint's reputation and the established collector following behind the Lunar series both contribute to the premium structure. Our pricing reflects real-time spot conditions while accounting for the collectible characteristics of this specific coin. Transparent pricing is central to how we operate, and the bid/ask spread displayed on our product page provides a clear view of both acquisition cost and current resale context.

Selling and Liquidity

The Australian Lunar Series I has a well-established secondary market supported by collectors, dealers, and silver buyers globally. Coins from this series trade regularly, and fractional sizes like this half-ounce Monkey attract attention both from set builders and from buyers drawn to the combination of silver content and series recognition. The Perth Mint's standing as a sovereign institution adds a layer of credibility that supports resale across different market environments.

We operate a two-way market, which means you can both purchase and sell coins like this one within our platform. We believe liquidity is a factor worth understanding before a purchase is made, not only when it is time to exit a position. Our competitive buyback pricing reflects real-time wholesale market conditions, giving you a clearer picture of the full transaction from the start.

Why Buy the 2004 1/2 oz Silver Lunar Monkey?

The 2004 Monkey is one of the more sought-after dates in the Series I program due to the cultural significance and collector appeal associated with the Year of the Monkey. Combined with the relatively limited mintage typical of fractional Perth Mint Lunar issues, this coin holds a more specific place in the market than standard bullion silver. For collectors building a complete Series I set, the half-ounce Monkey is a key piece that can be harder to source in clean, ungraded Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

The coin also benefits from The Perth Mint's production standards and the legal tender backing of the Australian government, both of which contribute to its credibility and recognition across international markets. For buyers who want a silver coin with a defined collectible identity beyond its metal content, this release offers a clear combination of craftsmanship, series context, and cultural relevance.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a nationally recognized precious metals marketplace since 2010, building our reputation on transparent pricing, reliable fulfillment, and a customer-first approach that does not rely on pressure or ambiguity. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects a consistent track record of treating customers fairly and delivering on our commitments. Membership in the ANA and NCBA reinforces our position within the professional standards of the numismatic and bullion industries.

As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we are positioned to support buyers interested in graded coins and can facilitate the certification process for coins like this one when condition documentation matters. Every product we handle is verified for authenticity, weight, and purity. Our sourcing draws from reputable mints, refineries, wholesalers, and distributors, and the experience is built around giving you the information you need to make a confident decision rather than pushing you toward a transaction.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a wide range of products, including collectible silver coins like this Series I Lunar Monkey. Rather than working from static retail pricing, Pro members see real-time market pricing that reflects actual supply and demand at the wholesale level, with no additional dealer markups applied on top. This allows for a more transparent view of what a coin like this actually trades for relative to its spot and premium components.

Pro also provides access to proprietary research tools that allow you to evaluate premiums, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity metrics across comparable products. For a coin with collectible characteristics that influence its premium structure, understanding how that premium has moved historically and how it compares across similar issues can meaningfully inform a purchasing decision. Portfolio valuation through Pro uses live wholesale bid pricing rather than estimated retail values, giving you a more accurate picture of your holdings at any given moment.

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