St. Helena and Ascension: unadopted circulation designs

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St. Helena and Ascension issued their own joint circulation coinage in 1984.

The Royal Mint worked on the project and assigned the English artist Michael Hibbit to produce appropriate designs.

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Crayfish designs for the penny.

Prototype designs for the circulation coinage.

Some of the scans provided are of rather poor quality.

Originally, the penny was going to feature a crayfish.

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Alternative designs for the penny.

Eventually it was decided that a tuna fish should grace the penny.

These are the only illustrations available of the two options that were considered.

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The issued coin.

1 penny.  Yellow fin tuna.  Thunnus albacares. 

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Alternative 2 pence designs.

The 2 pence design was criticised for including the numeral "2" as part of the shield of St Helena's arms.

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Alternative 2 pence design.

A green turtle was considered for the 2 pence.

Eventually it ended up on the 50 pence.

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Alternative 2 pence design.

A white oleander was also considered for the 2 pence but was rejected.

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Alternative 2 pence donkey designs.

St. Helena insisted that a donkey must be included on the coinage.

They are essential working animals on the island.

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Sketch of the issued 2 pence design.

St. Helena wanted the donkey to be shown carrying wood, as part of its work.

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The issued 2 pence coin.

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Alternative 5 pence designs.

The first version of the St Helena wire bird.

Its alternative common name is a plover.

The word "plover" rhymes with "cover", not "over" or"rover".

The bird was to feature on the 5 pence.

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The next version of the plover.

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The final version.

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The issued 5 pence coin.

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An arum lily for the 10 pence.