Kiribati: original sketches of the coinage

[<k>]

Kiribati, $5 sketch.

Kiribati requested a commemorative coin for its fifth anniversary of independence in 1984.

Robert Elderton of the Royal Mint (UK) drew up some initial sketches

These were shown as suggestions to the Kiribatese.

Above you see one of his ideas.

[<k>]

Kiribati, $5 sketch.  A different view of the same subject.

[<k>]

Kiribati, $5 sketch.  Gathering coconuts in baskets.

[<k>]

Kiribati, $5 sketch.  Gathering bananas.

[<k>]

Kiribati, $5 sketch.  A seashore scene.

[<k>]

Kiribati, $10 sketch, 1984.

Kiribati decided to choose a more prosaic theme instead. Michael Hibbit provided a design showing a map of Oceania with the main 3 island groups of Kiribati: GILBERTS GROUP, LINE GROUP and PHOENIX GROUP. The dashed line represents the International Date Line .

One of the scans in the document shows a variation of the design below, but with a frigate bird in flight at the top of the design, just as it appears on the national emblem. However, that scan is of very poor quality indeed, so I won't show it here.

Originally the issued coin was going to be a 5 dollar coin, but that was changed to 10 dollars.

[<k>]

Kiribati, $10, 1984.

Kiribati wanted some changes to the design.

However, they needed to be made quickly.


The Royal Mint therefore asked John Savage to make the changes.

He was an experienced numismatic artist,

He provided a plaster model of his amended design.

[Alex Island]

As a result, two different designs with slight differences:

The word "GROUP" for some reason seemed superfluous for someone in one case.

[<k>]

Well spotted, Mr Alex!

[Big_M]

As a result, two different designs with slight differences:

The word "GROUP" for some reason seemed superfluous for someone in one case ..

Is this consistent per alloy?

Moreover there are proof and uncirculated versions in silver. How about them?

[<k>]

More images by Michael Hibbit, © the Royal Mint.

These are preliminary designs from 1978.

They include the year and the pre-colonial name.

The issued coins showed only the pictorial design and the denomination.


The 10 cents design showed a palm tree and coconuts.

That attractive design was never issued.


The 2 cents design has an added background.

That background did not appear on the issued design.


The 1 cent lizard design appeared on the issued 5 cents coin.

It was amended to remove the eggs or rocks.


The 5 cents design appeared on the issued 1 cent coin.

It was amended to remove the rope around the branch.

Presumably the frigate bird was a captive one.


The background waves on the $1 design were omitted from the issued coin.


The $5 coin was a collector coin only.

[<k>]

A reminder of the issued circulation coins.

[<k>]

Here you see the Royal Mint's description of the designs in post #25.

[Alex Island]

The $5 coin was a collector coin only.

This is very interesting, thank you! Was anything test stamped into the metal?

[Big_M]

This is very interesting, thank you! Was anything test stamped into the metal?

It is clearly this coin:

Kiribati 1979 5 Dollars - Numista