The coinage of Vanuatu

[<k>]

Obverse of the 100 vatu coin.

The 100 vatu coin was made of aluminium-zinc-bronze.

It weighed 6.8 grams and was 23.25 mm in diameter.

The coin was scalloped in shape.

The obverse design featured the national emblem.

[<k>]

Reverse of the 100 vatu coin.

The reverse design featured Parliament House.

[<k>]

Vanuatu, parliament building, Port Vila.

[<k>]

CONCLUSION



Current coinage of Vanuatu.


Vanuatu issued its first coin series in 1983.

Its characteristics were largely inherited from the New Hebridean coinage.

This even extended to some denominations sharing a common reverse design.

It also meant that some coins were unnecessarily large and heavy.

The new series since 2015 is thoroughly modern.

The coins are significantly smaller and lighter.

They are also made of less expensive alloys.

One curiosity is the scalloped 100 vatu coin.

Very few new coin types since the 1970s have been scalloped.


However, Samoa issued a scalloped 2 tala coin in 2011.

The Royal Australian Mint produced both coins.

Perhaps the shape is coming back into fashion.

[<k>]

THEMATIC DESIGN CONTINUITY

Vanuatu: 10 vatu, 1983 and 2015.

The spider crab from the old 10 vatu was continued on the new 10 vatu.

The spider crab on the newer design looks almost identical to the older version.


The newer version of the crab is only slightly larger.

However, it has also been taken out of its environment.

The original crab appears against a stylised natural environment.


This is an example of Thematic design continuity.

[<k>]

To post comments about this topic, please click on the link below:

Comments on "The coinage of Vanuatu".