1 Yuan Year of the Monkey

China's lunar series coins have been issued annually since 1980, but the brass 1 Yuan circulation strikes are frequently overlooked in favor of the silver and gold commemorative versions produced alongside them. The 2004 issue entered circulation during a period when the People's Bank was aggressively expanding coin usage in lower denominations, partly to reduce the cost burden of reprinting paper notes of equivalent value.

The monkey holds a specific place in the series — 2004 marked the second full cycle through the zodiac since the program's inception.