The 2016 1/20 oz Australian Gold Lunar Monkey is a fractional bullion coin issued by The Perth Mint as part of its highly regarded Lunar Series II collection. Struck in .9999 fine gold and weighing 0.05 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under Australian law and features a denomination assigned by the Commonwealth of Australia. The coin's Brilliant Uncirculated finish reflects precision minting at one of the most respected sovereign mints in the world.
We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of Perth Mint gold products, which consistently draw attention from collectors and bullion buyers alike due to the mint's reputation for craftsmanship and consistent production standards. The Monkey issue represents the ninth animal in the twelve-year Lunar Series II cycle, making it a natural point of interest for both those building a thematic collection and those adding fractional gold to their holdings.
The Perth Mint introduced its first Lunar Series in 1996, drawing on the Chinese zodiac calendar to create a rotating annual design program featuring a different animal each year acr
…The 2016 1/20 oz Australian Gold Lunar Monkey is a fractional bullion coin issued by The Perth Mint as part of its highly regarded Lunar Series II collection. Struck in .9999 fine gold and weighing 0.05 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under Australian law and features a denomination assigned by the Commonwealth of Australia. The coin's Brilliant Uncirculated finish reflects precision minting at one of the most respected sovereign mints in the world.
We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of Perth Mint gold products, which consistently draw attention from collectors and bullion buyers alike due to the mint's reputation for craftsmanship and consistent production standards. The Monkey issue represents the ninth animal in the twelve-year Lunar Series II cycle, making it a natural point of interest for both those building a thematic collection and those adding fractional gold to their holdings.
The Perth Mint introduced its first Lunar Series in 1996, drawing on the Chinese zodiac calendar to create a rotating annual design program featuring a different animal each year across a twelve-year cycle. The series proved successful enough that the mint launched Lunar Series II in 2008 with refined designs, updated compositional standards, and an expanded range of denominations and sizes. The 1/20 oz gold format was part of that expansion, giving buyers access to the series in a more accessible fractional weight.
The Perth Mint itself has operated since 1899, originally established as a branch of the Royal Mint of Great Britain. Today it operates as a statutory authority of the government of Western Australia and is internationally recognized as one of the world's premier sovereign mints. Its gold coins carry a government guarantee of weight and purity, and the mint's production standards are considered among the most rigorous in the global bullion market.
The Year of the Monkey, occurring in 2016, holds particular significance in Chinese culture, where the monkey is associated with intelligence, curiosity, and cleverness. That cultural resonance contributes to collector demand for Monkey-year issues across both Lunar series, often making them among the more actively sought releases within the program.
The reverse of this coin features a dynamic portrait of a monkey rendered with fine detail, capturing the animal's characteristic energy and intelligence. The design was created specifically for Lunar Series II, with each annual release developed to stand on its own as a complete composition while remaining visually consistent with the broader series. The year of issue, weight, purity, and metal type are incorporated cleanly into the reverse field without cluttering the primary imagery.
The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the standard portrait used on Australian legal tender coins issued during that period. The portrait is accompanied by the coin's denomination and the name of the issuing nation. The overall design language of the coin balances heraldic tradition with artistic naturalism, a combination that has made the Lunar Series II one of the more visually distinctive programs in the modern gold coin market.
At the 1/20 oz scale, the fine details of the monkey design and the surrounding inscriptions are compressed but remain sharp, a testament to the precision of Perth Mint's striking process. The Brilliant Uncirculated finish enhances surface clarity, giving the coin a clean, reflective appearance consistent with the quality buyers expect from this series.
The 1/20 oz format occupies a practical position in the fractional gold market, offering genuine .9999 fine gold content in a format that requires a lower up-front outlay than full-ounce or half-ounce coins. For buyers looking to acquire gold gradually, or those who want to add a specific Lunar year to a collection without committing to a larger denomination, the 1/20 oz size provides a direct path to doing so. It also functions as a gifting option that carries both precious metal value and artistic significance.
Fractional gold coins typically carry higher premiums per troy ounce relative to their larger counterparts, which reflects the fixed production costs distributed across a smaller metal content. That characteristic is worth factoring into any purchasing decision, and we present pricing transparently so buyers can assess the actual cost relative to spot and make an informed comparison across sizes.
Every coin in the Perth Mint's Lunar Series II program is produced to exacting specifications, with the weight and purity of each piece guaranteed by the government of Western Australia. The .9999 fine gold standard used for these coins represents the highest commercial purity level commonly available in sovereign gold coinage, and Perth Mint's production facilities operate under documented quality controls that support that designation. The mint's government backing provides an additional layer of accountability that refineries and private mints cannot replicate.
We verify the authenticity, weight, and purity of products before they reach our customers, and we maintain authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC for products that require third-party grading. For raw bullion coins like this 1/20 oz Lunar Monkey in BU condition, the Perth Mint's own production standards and the coin's legal tender designation serve as the primary basis for authenticity assurance.
Brilliant Uncirculated indicates that this coin has not been placed into general circulation and retains its original mint-struck surface quality. BU coins may show minor contact marks from handling during the minting and packaging process, which is normal and expected at this grade. The designation distinguishes these coins from Proof issues, which undergo a more intensive polishing and striking process, but BU coins remain fully numismatic in presentation and are well-suited to both collection and bullion purposes.
Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to prevent surface contact during transit. Tubes of 1/20 oz Lunar coins from Perth Mint typically hold 50 coins, and larger bulk quantities ship in sealed outer packaging consistent with Perth Mint's standard distribution format. If you are purchasing a single coin, expect it to arrive in a flip that keeps the coin secured and clearly visible without requiring you to handle it directly to inspect it.
The price of this coin moves with the spot price of gold, which fluctuates continuously based on global trading activity. The premium above spot reflects several compounding factors: the 1/20 oz fractional format carries a higher per-ounce production cost than larger coins, The Perth Mint's reputation for quality commands recognition in secondary markets, and the Lunar Series II carries both bullion and collector demand that sustains premium levels beyond pure melt value. The Year of the Monkey in particular tends to attract attention from Chinese zodiac collectors, which can influence demand dynamics relative to other years in the series.
We structure pricing to reflect real-time market conditions with full transparency. Our product pages display both the ask price and the bid price, giving buyers a clear view of the bid/ask spread before committing to a purchase. Understanding the spread alongside the premium above spot provides a more complete picture of the true cost of ownership than looking at the purchase price alone.
Gold coins from The Perth Mint are recognized across global bullion markets, and the Lunar Series II program specifically has an established secondary market supported by both bullion buyers and thematic collectors. The .9999 fine gold standard, government backing, and widely circulated design series all contribute to the coin's recognizability in resale environments. Fractional gold coins generally maintain a market, though liquidity can vary depending on timing, format, and buyer demand at the point of sale.
We operate a two-way market that allows customers to sell as well as buy within the same platform. Competitive buyback pricing is available, and we encourage buyers to consider the sell side of the transaction before completing a purchase. Knowing where the bid sits relative to the ask provides a more grounded understanding of the product's position in the market at any given time.
This coin offers a combination of attributes that few fractional gold products can match simultaneously: government-issued legal tender status, .9999 fine gold purity, a design tied to a well-established annual series, and production from one of the most credentialed sovereign mints operating today. The Monkey year carries its own cultural weight within the Lunar program, and the 2016 issue is a fixed, non-repeating release within Series II, meaning the mintage is closed and the supply is finite.
For buyers focused purely on gold content in a government-backed format, the 1/20 oz size provides that access at a lower entry point than larger denominations. For those building a Lunar Series II set, this coin fills a specific year that cannot be substituted. The overlap between bullion buyers and series collectors creates a dual demand dynamic that distinguishes Lunar coins from generic fractional gold rounds or bars of comparable weight.
We operate as a transparent two-way marketplace, meaning we support both the buying and selling of precious metals within the same platform and apply the same commitment to pricing clarity on both sides of the transaction. Our pricing reflects live market conditions, and we display the bid/ask spread on each product page so buyers can evaluate the full picture before making a decision. That kind of transparency is central to how we operate, not an afterthought.
Our credentials include an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, active membership in the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the National Coin and Bullion Association (NCBA), and authorized dealer status with both PCGS and NGC. We source from reputable sovereign mints, established refineries, and recognized distributors, and every product is verified before it reaches a customer. Our payment options are broad, our fulfillment is reliable, and our customer support is accessible to buyers at any stage of the process.
Bullion Standard Pro gives members direct access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a wide range of precious metals products, including fractional gold coins like this 1/20 oz Lunar Monkey. Rather than working from static retail prices, Pro members see real-time pricing that reflects actual supply and demand conditions in the wholesale market, with no additional dealer markups layered on top. That pricing structure makes it easier to evaluate whether current conditions represent a favorable entry point relative to historical norms.
Pro also includes proprietary research and comparison tools that allow members to analyze premium levels, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity characteristics across products over time. For a coin like this one, where collector demand, fractional premiums, and bullion value all intersect, having access to historical premium data and spread analysis provides context that spot prices alone cannot offer. Portfolio valuation through Pro is based on live wholesale bid pricing rather than estimated retail values, giving members a clearer view of what their holdings are actually worth in the current market.
We accept a wide range of payment methods to make the purchasing process straightforward and secure. Major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are all supported, along with PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments processed through BitPay. Each payment method is integrated into a secure checkout environment designed to protect transaction data and give buyers confidence throughout the process.
Payment method availability may affect the final pricing on an order, as some methods carry different processing considerations that are reflected transparently at checkout. Regardless of how you choose to pay, the transaction is handled with the same commitment to security and reliability that applies across every part of the buying experience.
Product ID: BST-001641B404
| Year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Precious Metal Type | Gold |
| Bullion Coin Type | Lunar |
| Format | Coin |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
| Brand/Mint | Perth Mint |
| Mint Mark | P - Perth |
| Purity | 0.9999 |
| Weight | 0.05 oz |
| Thickness (mm) | 0.7 mm |
| Diameter (mm) | 13.1 mm |
| Grade | BU |
The 2016 1/20 oz Australian Gold Lunar Monkey is a fractional bullion coin issued by The Perth Mint as part of its highly regarded Lunar Series II collection. Struck in .9999 fine gold and weighing 0.05 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under Australian law and features a denomination assigned by the Commonwealth of Australia. The coin's Brilliant Uncirculated finish reflects precision minting at one of the most respected sovereign mints in the world.
We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of Perth Mint gold products, which consistently draw attention from collectors and bullion buyers alike due to the mint's reputation for craftsmanship and consistent production standards. The Monkey issue represents the ninth animal in the twelve-year Lunar Series II cycle, making it a natural point of interest for both those building a thematic collection and those adding fractional gold to their holdings.
The Perth Mint introduced its first Lunar Series in 1996, drawing on the Chinese zodiac calendar to create a rotating annual design program featuring a different animal each year acr
…The 2016 1/20 oz Australian Gold Lunar Monkey is a fractional bullion coin issued by The Perth Mint as part of its highly regarded Lunar Series II collection. Struck in .9999 fine gold and weighing 0.05 troy ounces, it carries legal tender status under Australian law and features a denomination assigned by the Commonwealth of Australia. The coin's Brilliant Uncirculated finish reflects precision minting at one of the most respected sovereign mints in the world.
We carry this coin as part of our broader selection of Perth Mint gold products, which consistently draw attention from collectors and bullion buyers alike due to the mint's reputation for craftsmanship and consistent production standards. The Monkey issue represents the ninth animal in the twelve-year Lunar Series II cycle, making it a natural point of interest for both those building a thematic collection and those adding fractional gold to their holdings.
The Perth Mint introduced its first Lunar Series in 1996, drawing on the Chinese zodiac calendar to create a rotating annual design program featuring a different animal each year across a twelve-year cycle. The series proved successful enough that the mint launched Lunar Series II in 2008 with refined designs, updated compositional standards, and an expanded range of denominations and sizes. The 1/20 oz gold format was part of that expansion, giving buyers access to the series in a more accessible fractional weight.
The Perth Mint itself has operated since 1899, originally established as a branch of the Royal Mint of Great Britain. Today it operates as a statutory authority of the government of Western Australia and is internationally recognized as one of the world's premier sovereign mints. Its gold coins carry a government guarantee of weight and purity, and the mint's production standards are considered among the most rigorous in the global bullion market.
The Year of the Monkey, occurring in 2016, holds particular significance in Chinese culture, where the monkey is associated with intelligence, curiosity, and cleverness. That cultural resonance contributes to collector demand for Monkey-year issues across both Lunar series, often making them among the more actively sought releases within the program.
The reverse of this coin features a dynamic portrait of a monkey rendered with fine detail, capturing the animal's characteristic energy and intelligence. The design was created specifically for Lunar Series II, with each annual release developed to stand on its own as a complete composition while remaining visually consistent with the broader series. The year of issue, weight, purity, and metal type are incorporated cleanly into the reverse field without cluttering the primary imagery.
The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the standard portrait used on Australian legal tender coins issued during that period. The portrait is accompanied by the coin's denomination and the name of the issuing nation. The overall design language of the coin balances heraldic tradition with artistic naturalism, a combination that has made the Lunar Series II one of the more visually distinctive programs in the modern gold coin market.
At the 1/20 oz scale, the fine details of the monkey design and the surrounding inscriptions are compressed but remain sharp, a testament to the precision of Perth Mint's striking process. The Brilliant Uncirculated finish enhances surface clarity, giving the coin a clean, reflective appearance consistent with the quality buyers expect from this series.
The 1/20 oz format occupies a practical position in the fractional gold market, offering genuine .9999 fine gold content in a format that requires a lower up-front outlay than full-ounce or half-ounce coins. For buyers looking to acquire gold gradually, or those who want to add a specific Lunar year to a collection without committing to a larger denomination, the 1/20 oz size provides a direct path to doing so. It also functions as a gifting option that carries both precious metal value and artistic significance.
Fractional gold coins typically carry higher premiums per troy ounce relative to their larger counterparts, which reflects the fixed production costs distributed across a smaller metal content. That characteristic is worth factoring into any purchasing decision, and we present pricing transparently so buyers can assess the actual cost relative to spot and make an informed comparison across sizes.
Every coin in the Perth Mint's Lunar Series II program is produced to exacting specifications, with the weight and purity of each piece guaranteed by the government of Western Australia. The .9999 fine gold standard used for these coins represents the highest commercial purity level commonly available in sovereign gold coinage, and Perth Mint's production facilities operate under documented quality controls that support that designation. The mint's government backing provides an additional layer of accountability that refineries and private mints cannot replicate.
We verify the authenticity, weight, and purity of products before they reach our customers, and we maintain authorized dealer relationships with both PCGS and NGC for products that require third-party grading. For raw bullion coins like this 1/20 oz Lunar Monkey in BU condition, the Perth Mint's own production standards and the coin's legal tender designation serve as the primary basis for authenticity assurance.
Brilliant Uncirculated indicates that this coin has not been placed into general circulation and retains its original mint-struck surface quality. BU coins may show minor contact marks from handling during the minting and packaging process, which is normal and expected at this grade. The designation distinguishes these coins from Proof issues, which undergo a more intensive polishing and striking process, but BU coins remain fully numismatic in presentation and are well-suited to both collection and bullion purposes.
Individual coins ship in a protective plastic flip to prevent surface contact during transit. Tubes of 1/20 oz Lunar coins from Perth Mint typically hold 50 coins, and larger bulk quantities ship in sealed outer packaging consistent with Perth Mint's standard distribution format. If you are purchasing a single coin, expect it to arrive in a flip that keeps the coin secured and clearly visible without requiring you to handle it directly to inspect it.
The price of this coin moves with the spot price of gold, which fluctuates continuously based on global trading activity. The premium above spot reflects several compounding factors: the 1/20 oz fractional format carries a higher per-ounce production cost than larger coins, The Perth Mint's reputation for quality commands recognition in secondary markets, and the Lunar Series II carries both bullion and collector demand that sustains premium levels beyond pure melt value. The Year of the Monkey in particular tends to attract attention from Chinese zodiac collectors, which can influence demand dynamics relative to other years in the series.
We structure pricing to reflect real-time market conditions with full transparency. Our product pages display both the ask price and the bid price, giving buyers a clear view of the bid/ask spread before committing to a purchase. Understanding the spread alongside the premium above spot provides a more complete picture of the true cost of ownership than looking at the purchase price alone.
Gold coins from The Perth Mint are recognized across global bullion markets, and the Lunar Series II program specifically has an established secondary market supported by both bullion buyers and thematic collectors. The .9999 fine gold standard, government backing, and widely circulated design series all contribute to the coin's recognizability in resale environments. Fractional gold coins generally maintain a market, though liquidity can vary depending on timing, format, and buyer demand at the point of sale.
We operate a two-way market that allows customers to sell as well as buy within the same platform. Competitive buyback pricing is available, and we encourage buyers to consider the sell side of the transaction before completing a purchase. Knowing where the bid sits relative to the ask provides a more grounded understanding of the product's position in the market at any given time.
This coin offers a combination of attributes that few fractional gold products can match simultaneously: government-issued legal tender status, .9999 fine gold purity, a design tied to a well-established annual series, and production from one of the most credentialed sovereign mints operating today. The Monkey year carries its own cultural weight within the Lunar program, and the 2016 issue is a fixed, non-repeating release within Series II, meaning the mintage is closed and the supply is finite.
For buyers focused purely on gold content in a government-backed format, the 1/20 oz size provides that access at a lower entry point than larger denominations. For those building a Lunar Series II set, this coin fills a specific year that cannot be substituted. The overlap between bullion buyers and series collectors creates a dual demand dynamic that distinguishes Lunar coins from generic fractional gold rounds or bars of comparable weight.
We operate as a transparent two-way marketplace, meaning we support both the buying and selling of precious metals within the same platform and apply the same commitment to pricing clarity on both sides of the transaction. Our pricing reflects live market conditions, and we display the bid/ask spread on each product page so buyers can evaluate the full picture before making a decision. That kind of transparency is central to how we operate, not an afterthought.
Our credentials include an A rating with the Better Business Bureau, active membership in the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the National Coin and Bullion Association (NCBA), and authorized dealer status with both PCGS and NGC. We source from reputable sovereign mints, established refineries, and recognized distributors, and every product is verified before it reaches a customer. Our payment options are broad, our fulfillment is reliable, and our customer support is accessible to buyers at any stage of the process.
Bullion Standard Pro gives members direct access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a wide range of precious metals products, including fractional gold coins like this 1/20 oz Lunar Monkey. Rather than working from static retail prices, Pro members see real-time pricing that reflects actual supply and demand conditions in the wholesale market, with no additional dealer markups layered on top. That pricing structure makes it easier to evaluate whether current conditions represent a favorable entry point relative to historical norms.
Pro also includes proprietary research and comparison tools that allow members to analyze premium levels, bid/ask spreads, and liquidity characteristics across products over time. For a coin like this one, where collector demand, fractional premiums, and bullion value all intersect, having access to historical premium data and spread analysis provides context that spot prices alone cannot offer. Portfolio valuation through Pro is based on live wholesale bid pricing rather than estimated retail values, giving members a clearer view of what their holdings are actually worth in the current market.
We accept a wide range of payment methods to make the purchasing process straightforward and secure. Major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are all supported, along with PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency payments processed through BitPay. Each payment method is integrated into a secure checkout environment designed to protect transaction data and give buyers confidence throughout the process.
Payment method availability may affect the final pricing on an order, as some methods carry different processing considerations that are reflected transparently at checkout. Regardless of how you choose to pay, the transaction is handled with the same commitment to security and reliability that applies across every part of the buying experience.