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Thematic sets from the 1920s to date

Started by <k>, June 19, 2012, 10:13:28 PM

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<k>

#75
1975.

Tonga issued its first full set of circulation coins. It was a FAO series, devoted to agriculture and foodstuffs. At first glance the designs look rather childlike and comical, but the set has some interesting points. A pig appears on the 1 seniti coin, while a hen and chicks are featured on the 5 seniti coin. This reminds me of another country's coinage: was the artist paying homage to the Irish barnyard series?

The designs play with number, linking the design to the denomination – an old trick but an enjoyable one: the 2 seniti coin features two water melons, while there are 5 bananas on the 5 seniti coin. But it gets more ambitious, ending up with 50 fish on the 50 seniti coin and 100 trees on the 1 pa'anga coin (100 seniti = 1 pa'anga). Unusually for modern times, the smiling king appears in a military cap and a rather well detailed uniform, but only on the obverse of the coins from the 10 seniti denomination upwards. The 1, 2 and 5 seniti coins, however, have different designs on each side and no common obverse. Usually a coin set either has a common obverse or else each design is different (the USA's coinage is an example of this), but this Tongan set combines both characteristics in a single set.

See also:

1] 50 fish on 50 cents: Denomination reflected in design.

2] Coinage of Tonga.






1   seniti.      Maize.                          Re: Pig.
2   seniti.      Two water melons.        Re: Family planning symbol.
5   seniti.      Hen and chicks.            Re: Bunch of bananas.
10 seniti.      Taufa'Ahau Tupou IV.     Re: Cows grazing.
20 seniti.      Taufa'Ahau Tupou IV.     Re: Bees leaving hive.
50 seniti.      Taufa'Ahau Tupou IV.     Re: Concentric circles of stylised fish.
1   pa'anga.  Taufa'Ahau Tupou IV.     Re: 100 palm trees.

Designer: Maurice Meers, an English graphic designer.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#76
1976.

Botswana, formerly known as Bechuanaland, became independent from the British in 1966. Like many other African countries, it chose its national wildlife as the theme for its coinage, issued in 1976. Most of the designs are still in use, though the coins have changed radically in size, metal content and sometimes shape.

See also: Coinage of Botswana.

The coin sizes in this image are not to scale.






1   thebe.  Turako bird.
5   thebe.  Toko bird. (Hornbill).
10 thebe.  South African oryx.
25 thebe.  Zebu - hump-backed ox.
50 thebe.  African fish eagle.
1   pula.     Zebra.

Designer: Michael Hibbit.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#77
1976.

The Isle of Man issued its second series of decimal circulation coins, only five years after the issue of its first set. This one lasted from 1976 to 1979. The designs reflected Manx culture, wildlife and landmarks. The coins below are from the Manx Millennium year of 1979 and include a special circular mint mark, which contains a stylised triskele.

See also: Milestones in the decimal coinage of the Isle of Man.

The coin sizes in this image are not to scale.






½p.   Herring.             
1p.    Loghtan ram.         
2p.    Manx shearwater.         
5p.    Laxey wheel.         
10p.  Triskele.           
50p.  Viking ship.

Designer: Barry Stanton.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#78
1976.

The Seychelles became independent from Britain in 1976 and issued an independence coinage the same year. It was a very attractive set, depicting the exotic wildlife of the Seychelles. The obverse of the coins featured Michael Rizzello's portrait of President James Mancham. In 1977 he was deposed in a coup and his portrait was replaced by the coat of arms.

See also: Wildlife of the Seychelles.

The coin sizes in this image are not to scale.






1  cent.      Boueteur fish.
5  cents.    Bourgeois fish.
10 cents.    Sailfish.
25 cents.    Black parrot.
50 cents.    Vanilla orchid.
1  rupee.    Triton conch shell.
5  rupees.  Coco-de-mer palm tree.
10 rupees.  Green turtle.

Reverse designs by Suzanne Danielli.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#79
1976.

Tuvalu issued a national coinage in 1976 and became independent from Britain in 1978.

It was formerly known as the Ellice Islands. Nowadays it uses the Australian dollar.

Its coin designs were all devoted to sea life.

See also:

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands became Kiribati and Tuvalu

Tuvalu: unadopted designs.






1c.    Lambis shell.
2c.    Stingray.
5c.    Tiger shark.
10c.  Crab.
20c.  Flying fish.
50c.  Octopus.
$1.   Turtle.

Designer: John Donald.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#80
1977.

Djibouti became independent from France in 1977. Some of the designs on its coinage dated from its days as a French colony.

See: Coinage of French Somaliland / French Afars and Issas / Djibouti.






1, 2 and 5 francs.     Head of waterbuck.
10 and 20 francs.     Ship and boat.
50 and 100 francs.   Two camels.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#81
1977.

Ethiopia issued a new design series and currency in 1977, where 1 birr was equal to 100 cents. The designs were rather socialist or communist in tone, apart from a single wildlife design, which portrayed a mountain nyala. The common obverse showed a lion's head. The set was designed by Stuart Devlin.

See also:

Circulation sets depicting statesmen and/or humans at work.

Coinage of Ethiopia since 1977.






1   santeem.   Rice farmer working an ox plough.
5   santeem.   Soldier, member of the People's Army.
10 santeem.   Mountain nyala.  Tragelaphus buxtoni.
25 santeem.   Male and female workers rejoicing.
50 santeem.   The People's development.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#82
1977.

Guinea-Bissau issued a beautiful 5 coin set devoted to trees and plants. It was produced by the Royal Mint, Britain.

See: Coinage of Guinea-Bissau.






50 centavos.  Coconut palm.
1    peso.        Yam plant.
2½ pesos.      Date palm.
5    pesos.      Peanut plant.
20  pesos.      Rice plant.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#83
1977.

Rwanda issued a 20 francs and 50 francs coin, to complete the new series that began in 1974. The 1, 5 and 10 francs had been designed by the English engraver and silversmith, Leslie Durbin, and produced by the Royal Mint. The 20 francs and 50 francs were designed by Emile Rousseau and produced by the Paris Mint. Mr Rousseau managed to make his bananas look as sinister as a Triffid, and also somewhat obscene. Note also the idiosyncratic font that he used for the legends, compared to the more traditional fonts on the 1, 5 and 10 francs.

See also: Coinage of Rwanda.






1   franc.   Millet.
5   francs.  Branch of a coffee tree.
10 francs.  Branch of a coffee tree.
20 francs.  Bananas.
50 francs.  Tea plant.

Designers: 1, 5, 10 francs - Leslie Durbin; 20, 50 francs - Emile Rousseau.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#84
1977

São Tomé and Príncipe (St Thomas and Prince) is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. In 1977 it issued a circulation series consisting entirely of FAO-themed coins. The Portuguese slogan translates as "Let's increase production".

See also:

1] Circulation sets consisting entirely of FAO-themed coins.

2] Modern coinage of São Tomé e Príncipe (Saint Thomas and Prince)






1 dobra.      Cocoa plant.
2 dobras.    A goat and kid.
5 dobras.    Maize.
10 dobras.  Chickens, goose, turkey, eggs.
20 dobras.  Gear wheel, coffee plants, pineapple, papaya, peaches and bananas.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#85
1977.

The Solomon Islands became independent from Britain in 1978 but issued their first coinage in 1977.

It is a charming set, depicting the cultural heritage of the islands.

The effigy of the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, appeared on the obverse of the coins.

See also:

Solomon Islands: unadopted designs.

The Coinage of the Solomon Islands.






1c.    Native food bowl.
2c.    Eagle spirit of Malaita perched on war club.
5c.    Santa Ysabel: native mask.
10c.  Ngorieru: walking sea spirit.
20c.  Malaita pendant design showing monkeys in centre.
$1.    War canoe figure head: Nusu-Nusu, sea spirit.

Designs by David Thomas.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#86
1979.

Kiribati became independent from Britain and issued a national coinage set.

The country was formerly known as the Gilbert Islands and formed part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

The designs depict the exotic wildlife of the islands. The Ellice Islands became independent as Tuvalu in 1978.

See also:

Kiribati: original sketches of the coinage.

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands became Kiribati and Tuvalu






1c.    Frigate birds.
2c.    B'abai plant.
5c.    Tokai lizard.
10c.  Breadfruit plant.
20c.  Bottle-nosed porpoises.
50c.  Pandanus fruit.
$1.    Native sailing canoe.

Common  obverse: Coat of arms.   

Reverse designs by Michael Hibbit.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#87
1979.

Lesotho became independent from Britain in 1966. It did not issue a national circulation coinage until 1979.

The attractive set featured Lesotho's traditions and culture.

See also: Coinage of Lesotho.






1   sente.     Traditional Basotho hat.
2   lisente.   Cow.
5   lisente.   Aloe-agavi tree.
10 lisente.   Angora/mohair goat.
25 lisente.   Woman making a basket.
50 lisente.   Man on horseback.
1   loti.         Coat of arms.

Common obverse: King Moeshoeshoe II.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#88
1980.

Greece started a new design series in 1976, which was completed with the addition of a 50 drachmai coin in 1980.

See also: Pre-euro coinage of the Republic of Greece, 1976 to 2001.






10 lepta.         Bull design, from a stater of Sybaris/Thurioi (4c BC).
20 lepta.         Horse head.
50 lepta.         Markos Botsaris, general.
1   drachm.      Konstantinos Kanaris, an admiral, and the ship named after him.
2   drachmes.  Georgios Karaiskakis, general.
5   drachmes.  Aristotle.
10 drachmes.  Atom model / Democritus.
20 drachmes.  Nike temple (Acropolis) in Athens / Pericles.
50 drachmes.  Solon of Athens.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#89
1980.

The Isle of Man issued yet another design series, four years after the previous one.

See also: Milestones in the decimal coinage of the Isle of Man.






½p.   Herring.         
1p.    Manx cat.         
2p.    Chough.         
5p.    Loghtan ram.             
10p.  Peregrine falcon.        
50p.  Viking longship.

Designer: Leslie Lindsay.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.