Australasia and Oceania: The Southern Cross and Other Stars

Started by <k>, August 07, 2013, 10:06:55 PM

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<k>

Several of the countries and territories of Australasia and Oceania use the Southern Cross on their flags or coats of arms.

Others still use some other kind of star.

In this topic I will look at those coins that have reflected this use.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Flag of Australia.


The star that appears on nearly all Australian  pre-decimal coins of looks at first like mere ornamentation.

However, it has a special significance.

From Wikipedia:

The Commonwealth Star (also known as the Federation Star, the Seven Point Star, or the Star of Federation) is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901.

Six points of the Star represent the six original states of the Commonwealth of Australia, while the seventh point represents the territories and any future states. The original Star had only six points; however, the proclamation in 1905 of the Territory of Papua led to the addition of the seventh point in 1908 to represent it and future territories.




Australia1s1935.jpg

Australia, 1 shilling, 1935.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Australia1s1938.jpg

Australia, 1 shilling, 1938.


Here we see the Commonwealth Star again. M

Most people think it is just a meaningless part of the design.

It is most certainly not!
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Australia, $2.


The Southern Cross constellation on the reverse.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

NZflag.png





New Zealand, crown, 1953.


New Zealand also uses the Southern Cross.

However, it prefers traditional five-pointed stars.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

New Zealand crown 1949.jpg

New Zealand, crown, 1949.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

New Zealand $1 1973.JPG

New Zealand, 1 dollar, 1973.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Niue $5 1989.jpg

Niue, 5 dollars, 1989.


Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand.

Notice the similarity of its coat of arms to that of New Zealand.

Talking of stars, I think MacArthur must have been a five star general.



Niue flag.gif

Flag of Niue.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Western Samoa, 1 sene, 1967.


The Southern Cross again.

Interesting that New Zealand and its associated territories prefer four stars.

By contrast, Australia and others use five stars.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>



Western Samoa, 1 dollar.


Samoa flag.gif

The Samoan flag.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

PNG 10K 1975-.JPG PNG 10K 1975.JPG 

Papua New Guinea, 10 kina, 1975.


The Southern Cross, and the Bird of Paradise.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

PNG flag.gif

The flag of Papua New Guinea.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Tonga 1 koula 1962.jpg

Tonga, 1 koula, 1962.  Gold bullion coin.



Tonga 50  seniti  1974.jpg

Tonga, 50  seniti, 1974.


The three stars symbolise the main island groups of Tonga.

These are Tongatapu, Vavaʻu and Haʻapai.

The text on the scroll at the bottom reads:

Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku Tofiʻa in the Tongan language.

In English: 'God and Tonga are my inheritance'.



Coat of arms of Tonga.png

Coat of arms of Tonga.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Micronesia $1 1974.jpg

The Federated States of Micronesia, $1, 2004.


This is a collector coin only.

Micronesia is a self-governing state, in free association with the USA. It uses the US dollar.

The four stars on the coin represent the states in the federation: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap.



Micronesia flag.gif

Micronesia flag.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Marshall Islands $5 1993.jpg

Marshall Islands, $5, 1993.


The Marshall Islands are self-governing, in free association with the USA, and they use the US dollar.


Description:

The outstanding feature of the Seal is the stylized Angel of Peace with outstretched wings.

Around the Angel, from the top and moving clockwise:
24 point star representing the 21 municipalities of the Republic.

The four longer rays represent the 4 sub-centers of Majuro (the capital), Jaluit, Wotje, and Kwajalein Atolls.

On either side of the star are the rays which are on the flag. Each ray is of two colors, one, orange representing bravery, and the other, white representing peace. The two-colored rays also represent the two chains of atolls, the Ratak (Sunrise) and the Ralik (Sunset).

Next is a stylized fishing net, fish being the main staple of the diet of the Marshallese people.

Next, a stylized sailing canoe, outrigger type, sails on the ocean (covering the bottom 1/3 of the seal).

Under the stick chart is the word "SEAL."

An island with stylized palm trees (coconut) is next. All of the Marshall Islands are low lying atolls.

Above the right wing of the Angel is a "pounder", made out of a giant clam shell, and treasured by every family that owns one. This pounder is used to pound pandanus leaves, which are used for making mats, sails, and, traditionally, clothing.

Around the outer edges are the words "Republic of the Marshall Islands" and at the bottom, "Jepilpilin ke ejukaan."

The rim of the seal is a link chain representing that the islands are all linked together.
Half of the chain represents the Ralik group and the other half the Ratak.




Marshall Islands flag.png

Marshall Islands flag.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.