I was given a curious gift this year, among the usual passel of fascinating stones.
I think it’s a Chinese Pilgrimage Coin of sorts. It’s certainly very similar to some that I saw when I was a child.
Those symbols are pretty obvious. The four staffs/weapons belonging to Xuanzang, Sūn Wùkōng, Zhū Bājiè, and Shā Wùjìng from Journey to the West, and I’m fairly sure that the three characters below are the Traditional Chinese for the name of the story.
On the obverse, well:
That might be guān yīn, but I’m really not sure.
Seen one of these before? Tell me more!
Your suspicions are very well founded, Tat, this is indeed a commemorative coin minted to celebrate the Journey To The West, and that swell lady on heads is indeed the Buddhist/Taoist Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin.
This will certainly look great next to your Tabula Rasa Challenge Coin.
Lots of coins here, but no luck yet – http://www.omnicoin.com/search_results.aspx?cat=1001&cn=10065
I wonder how heavy it is so we can perhaps exclude the aluminium coins.
It’s a great story though – http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Journey_to_the_West
It’s a bit larger in diameter than an Australian 50c coin, the same thickness and feels proportionately heavier. I’d say there’s not as much nickel in there (by the comparatively lower surface reflectivity), but otherwise I’d guess at the compositions being fairly similar.