Coinage of the Cook Islands

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Reverse of the $2 coin of 2015.

The reverse design featured a kumete and a mortar and pestle.

This was the same design as on the previous $2 coin.

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Obverse of the $5 coin of 2015.

The 12-sided $5 coin was made of aluminium-nickel-bronze.

It weighed 14.3 grams and was 31.5 mm in diameter.

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Reverse of the $5 coin of 2015.

The reverse design featured a a vaka, the local name for a catamaran.

The Southern Cross constellation dominates the night sky.

The superb design was by Aaron Baggio of the Royal Australian Mint.

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DESIGN CHOICES

The Cook Islands issued their first coin series in 1972.

Many countries have issued two or more design series since then.


The Cook Islands have essentially issued only one design series.

In that time, they changed only two reverse designs.




Cook Islands 50 cents 1972 and 50 tene 1988.

A turtle replaced the bonito fish on the 50 cents from 1988 to 1994.

It stood out because of its legend 50 TENE.

The other coins showed numerals only for the denomination.


The bonito fish was reinstated on the 50 cents in 2015.

The turtle design was attractive but somewhat overdetailed.

Some other Pacific island nations feature a turtle on their coins.

The bonito fish is perhaps a more exclusive choice.




Cook Islands $5 1987 and $5 2015.

The $5 coin was added to the series in 1987.

For many years it featured an attractive conch shell design.

In 2015 it was replaced by a superb catamaran design.

Several Pacific island nations feature a boat on their coins.

The Cook Islands' catamaran design outshines all the others.

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Cook Islands set of 2015.

Here are the coins as they look today.

The cents coins are slightly smaller than their New Zealand counterparts.


Their scalloped $1 coin is large, at 28.5 mm.

The New Zealand $1 coin is only 23 mm in diameter.

The Australian $1 coin is 25 mm in diameter.

The triangular $2 coin is 26 mm in diameter.

The round New Zealand $2 coin is 26.5 mm in diameter.

The round Australian $2 coin is only 20.5 mm in diameter.


The Cook Islands' $2 coin is smaller than their $1 coin.

This is similar to the Australian situation.

Neither Australia nor New Zealand has a $5 coin.

The Cook Islands' $5 coin is similar to the Australian 50 cents coin.


The Australian 50 cents coin is 31.5 in diameter.

The Cook Islands' $5 coin is also 31.5 in diameter.

Both coins are 12-sided but are in different metals.


The Cook Islands' $5 coin weighs 14.3 grams.

The Australian 50 cents coin weighs 15.5 grams.

The Cook Islands' cents coins are in copper-nickel.

Its $1, $2 and $5 coins are made of aluminium bronze.

So there is a metal colour split between subunit and unit coins.

This mirrors the situation in Australia and New Zealand.

See:  Coin tiers: subunits and units divided by metal colour.

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CONCLUSION

The Cook Islands once more have their own coinage.

Their attractive coin designs reflect the local culture and wildlife.


However, their $5 coin is one of the world's largest circulation coins.

It is of a similar size to the Australian 50 cents coin.

Perhaps the $1, $2 and $5 will be reduced in size at some point.

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