Coinage of the Cook Islands

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The Cook Islands

Australasia and the Pacific Islands

From Wikipedia:

The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean, in free association with New Zealand. It has a population of around 17000. It comprises 15 islands whose total land area is 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi). The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi) of ocean. Rarotonga is capital and also the largest of the Cook Islands, with Avarua as its the main commercial and administrative centre. 

New Zealand is responsible for the Cook Islands' defence and foreign affairs, but they are exercised in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to other New Zealand citizens.

The Cook Islands' main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (10,572 in 2011), where there is an international airport. There is a larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand itself; in the 2013 census, 61,839 people said they were Cook Islanders, or of Cook Islands descent. Tourism is the country's main industry, followed by offshore banking, pearls, and marine and fruit exports.

The languages of the Cook Islands include English, Cook Islands Māori, also known as "Rarotongan," and Pukapukan.

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Coat of arms

From Wikipedia:

The coat of arms of the Cook Islands has a shield as its focal point. The shield is blue with fifteen white stars arranged in a circle, as found on the national flag, and is supported by a flying fish (maroro) and a white tern (kakaia). The helmet is an ariki head-dress (pare kura) of red feathers, symbolising the importance of the traditional rank system, and the name of the nation is on a scroll below the shield. The achievement is augmented by a cross and a Rarotongan club (momore taringavaru) used by orators during traditional discourses, respectively symbolizing Christianity and the richness of Cook Islands' tradition, placed in saltire behind the shield.

The coat of arms was designed by Papa Motu Kora, a mataiapo, a traditional chiefly title from the village of Matavera in Rarotonga.

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The flag of the Cook Islands

From Wikipedia:

The flag of the Cook Islands, officially known as the Cook Islands Ensign, is based on the traditional design for former British colonies in the Pacific region. It is a blue ensign containing the Union Flag in the upper left, and on the right, fifteen stars in a ring. The Union Flag is symbolic of the nation's historic ties to the United Kingdom and to the Commonwealth of Nations. The stars stand for the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands (Tongareva, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Nassau, Suwarrow, Palmerston, Aitutaki, Manuae, Takutea, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Rarotonga and Mangaia). The blue represents the ocean and the peaceful nature of the inhabitants.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COOK ISLANDS

From Wikipedia:

The Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888, due largely to community fears that France might occupy the territory, as it had Tahiti. On 6 September 1900, the leading islanders presented a petition asking that the islands (including Niue "if possible") should be annexed as British territory. On 8–9 October 1900 seven instruments of cession of Rarotonga and other islands were signed by their chiefs and people; and by a British Proclamation issued at the same time the cessions were accepted, the islands being declared parts of Her Britannic Majesty's dominions.

These instruments did not include Aitutaki. It appears that, though the inhabitants regarded themselves as British subjects, the Crown's title was uncertain, and the island was formally annexed by Proclamation dated 9 October 1900. The islands were included within the boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand in 1901 by Order in Council under the Colonial Boundaries Act, 1895 of the United Kingdom.  The boundary change became effective on 11 June 1901, and the Cook Islands have had a formal relationship with New Zealand ever since.

When the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect on 1 January 1949, Cook Islanders who were British subjects gained New Zealand citizenship. The country remained a New Zealand dependent territory until 1965, when the New Zealand Government decided to offer self-governing status to its colony. In that year, Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party was elected as the first Premier.

The Realm of New Zealand, one of 16 Commonwealth realms, is the entire area over which the King of New Zealand is sovereign, and comprises New Zealand, Tokelau, the Ross Dependency, the Cook Islands and Niue. The Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing states in free association with New Zealand. The New Zealand Parliament cannot pass legislation for these countries, but with their consent can act on behalf of them in foreign affairs and defence. Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory, but is administered by a council of three elders (one from each Tokelauan atoll). The Ross Dependency is New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica, where it operates the Scott Base research facility. New Zealand nationality law treats all parts of the realm equally, so most people born in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency are New Zealand citizens.

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THE COOK ISLANDS DOLLAR

From Wikipedia:

The dollar is the currency of the Cook Islands. The dollar is subdivided into 100 cents, although some 50 cent coins carry the denomination as "50 tene".

Until 1967, the New Zealand pound was used on the Cook Islands, when it was replaced by the New Zealand dollar. In 1972, coins were issued specifically for the Cook Islands, with banknotes appearing in 1987. The Cook Islands dollar is pegged at par to the New Zealand dollar. The currency of New Zealand and the Cook Islands circulate concurrently within the country.

In 1972, bronze 1 and 2 cents, and cupro-nickel 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 dollar coins were introduced. All were the same size, weight, and composition as the corresponding New Zealand coins. However, the unique crown-sized dollar coin circulated much more readily than its New Zealand counterpart. The coins depicted plants, animals, and items that are unique to the Cook Islands.

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Obverse of the 1 cent coin.

The common obverse of the coins featured Queen Elizabeth II.

She was the head of state of New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

The portrait used was by English sculptor Arnold Machin.

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Reverse of the 1 cent coin.

The 1 cent coin was made of bronze.

It weighed 2 grams and was 17.5 mm in diameter.


The reverse design featured a taro leaf.

All the reverse designs were by New Zealander James Berry

He had also designed the reverses of New Zealand's first decimal coins.

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Taro leaves.

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Reverse of the 2 cents coin.

The 2 cents coin was made of bronze.

It weighed 4.1 grams and was 21.1 mm in diameter.


The reverse design featured two pineapples.

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Obverse of the 5 cents coin.

The 5 cents coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 2.8 grams and was 19.4 mm in diameter.

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Reverse of the 5 cents coin.

The reverse design featured a Chinese hibiscus.

Its scientific name is rosa-sinensis.

It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics.

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Chinese hibiscus.

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Reverse of the 10 cents coin.

The 10 cents coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 5.6 grams and was 23.6 mm in diameter.


The reverse design featured oranges.

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Oranges.

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Reverse of the 20 cents coin.

The 20 cents coin was made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 11.3 grams and was 28.5 mm in diameter.


The reverse design featured a white tern.

Its scientific name is Gygis alba.


The white tern is a small seabird.

It is found across the tropical oceans of the world.