Wildlife of the Seychelles

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The location of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.

Seychelles, which has a population of around 84,000, is a 115-island country spanning an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. It used to be a dependency of Mauritius, a British colony, until 1903, when it was made a separate crown colony in its own right. Seychelles gained independence from Britain in 1976.

The map above shows Madagascar in approximately the correct proportions, but the Seychelles and the other islands have been enlarged slightly to show their shape.

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Seychelles, 5 rupees, 1972.

In the 1970s the Seychelles started to issue coin designs that depicted its lush wildlife.

This has caused it to be called metaphorically the Garden of Eden.


The 5 rupees of 1972 was a one-year regular circulation coin.

The reverse design shows an Aldabra giant tortoise. 

The Aldabra group of islands is part of the outer islands of the Seychelles.


The UK issued its ground-breaking heptagonal 50 pence in 1969.

The Seychelles was among the first to adopt a heptagonal shaped coin.

The reverse design was the work of British artist and sculptor Norman Sillman.

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A closer look at the beautiful reverse design of the 5 rupees coin of 1972.

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An Aldabra giant tortoise.

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In 1974 the Seychelles issued a 10 rupees coin showing the green turtle.

See: Seychelles 10 rupees 1974: unadopted variations.

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A closer look at the reverse design of the 10 rupees coin of 1974.

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A green turtle.

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Coat of arms of the Republic of Seychelles.

The Seychelles became independent from the UK in 1976.

From Wikipedia:

The coat of arms of the Republic of Seychelles shows a shield, in which a giant tortoise is located on green grounds. On the ground there is a coco de mer palm tree. Behind it there is a blue sea with two islands and a sail ship to be seen. The shield is enthroned by a silver helmet, on which a white-tailed tropicbird is located above blue and white waves. The shield is supported by two white sailfish. Beneath the shield the motto of Seychelles is stated: "Finis Coronat Opus" (a phrase traditionally attributed to Ovid) (Latin for "The End Crowns the Work").

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Flag of the Republic of Seychelles from 1976 to 1977.

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James Mancham.

From Wikipedia:

Sir James Richard Marie Mancham KBE (born 1939, died 2017) was the first President of the Seychelles from 1976 to 1977. When Britain announced its intention to give independence to the colony, Mancham founded the Democratic Party (S.D.P.), and served as its leader until February 2005. France-Albert René founded an opposition party, the Seychelles People's United Party (S.P.U.P) with the support of the Soviet Union. As Chief Minister of the colony, Mancham promoted tourism to the Seychelles and arranged for the building of the airport that was to make the Seychelles accessible to the rest of the world. Tourism increased and the economy developed. In 1976 Mancham won the popular vote when the British gave the Seychelles independence.

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NEW DESIGN SERIES OF 1976.

The rupee is the currency of the Seychelles. It is subdivided into 100 cents.

In 1976, the year that it gained independence, the Seychelles issued a new coin series.

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The lowest denomination of the series was the 1 cent coin.

It was made of aluminium and weighed 0.7 grams.

It had a diameter of 17 mm.

The coin that you see in the image is a proof version.


Like all the coins of 1976, the obverse featured a portrait of President Mancham.

The portrait was the work of Michael Rizzello.

All the coins in the series were produced by the Royal Mint (UK).

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The reverse of the coinage was devoted to the country's exotic wildlife.

The reverse designs were the work of English artist Suzanne Danielli.

The word INDEPENDENCE also appeared on all the reverses of the 1976 series.


The 1 cent reverse featured a striped-tailed damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus).

This fish is also known as a scissortail sergeant.

Some proof sets also give the common name as a "boueteur" fish.

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A striped-tailed damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus).

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The 5 cents coin was scalloped and made of aluminium.

It weighed 0.8 grams and had a diameter of 18.5 mm.

The coin that you see in the image is a proof version.


The reverse depicted the emperor red snapper ([Lutjanus sebae).