Pacific Islands

[andyg]

For a different look at the currencies of this area, see this thread

[andyg]

Cook Islands, a modern type set.

The first coins for the Cook Islands were introduced in 1972.  New Zealand currency had been in use prior to that and remains in use to this day.  The older 1 cent to 50 cent are now obsolete*

*Martin, I think you said they were?

1) 1 Cent, 1983, Taro leaf
2) 2 Cents, 1983, pineapple
3) 5 Cents, 1983, hibiscus plant
4) 10 Cents, 1983, orange
5) 20 Cents, 1983, fairy tern
6) 50 Tene, 1992, sea turtle, Tene was used instead of cents on this issue.
7) 1 Dollar, 1992, Man in desperate need of a pair of Dale's pants. (Polynesian god of creation)
8 ) 2 Dollars, 2003, ??, an unusual shape, the worlds only triangular circulating coin to date.
9) 5 Dollars, 1992, Conch shell.

[andyg]

Fiji, some older coins

British coinage was current in Fiji from 1881, then from 1910 it was gradually replaced by Australian coinage. The first coins intended specifically for Fiji were issued in 1934, the ½d and 1d were in Cupper-Nickel with a centre hole, the 6d, 1/ and 2/ in silver were the standard British / Australian sizes.  A twelve sided Brass 3d (as the British issue) was added in 1947.  Fiji was decimalised in 1969, the coins followed the Australian pattern, with 1 Shilling becoming 10 Cents.

1) ½d, 1952
2) 1d, 1936, one of the few coins worldwide to be issued in the name of Edward VIII
3) 1 Shilling, 1942, Struck by the Americans due to the war, with the 'S' (San Francisco) mintmark
4) 1 Cent, 1981, FAO issue.
5) 20 Cents, 2003, South pacific games commemorative
6) 50 Cents, 1992, despite becoming a republic in 1990, Queen Elizabeth remained on the coins

[andyg]

Fiji, a modern type set

Starting 2009 the original 5, 10, 20 and 50 decimal coins were revised, 10, 20 and 50 cents being issued in smaller sizes.

1) 5 Cents, 1990
2) 10 Cents 2009
3) 20 Cents 2009
4) 50 Cents 2009
5) 1 Dollar, 1995

There were plans for a new dollar coin, but as yet I've seen no evidence of a revised coin.

[andyg]

French Polynesia, A modern type set.

Not much to say about these, the 50 Centimes, 1, 2 and 5 Francs were originally introduced in 1949 following the devaluation of the French franc after the second world war.  Originally the legend read 'Establishments Francais de l'Oceanie', this was changed in 1965 to 'Polynesie Francaise'  The larger nickel coins were introduced in 1967, and the 100 Franc in 1976.  Starting 2006 the 100 Franc has been issued in Brass rather than Nickel-Bronze.

1) 50 Centimes, 1965, now no longer used
2) 1 Franc, 1982
3) 2 Francs, 2006
4) 5 Francs, 2007
5) 10 Francs, 2007
6) 20 Francs, 2007
7) 50 Francs, 2007
8 ) 100 Francs, 2007

Does anyone know what the designs are of?

[andyg]

Kiribati, a modern type set.

Kiribati uses the Australian Dollar, these coins were designed to circulate alongside the Australian issues.

1) 1 Cent, 1992, Christmas Island Frigate bird
2) 2 Cents, 1992, B'abal plant
3) 5 Cents, 1979, Tokai lizard
4) 10 Cents, 1979, Bread fruit
5) 20 Cents, 1979, Dolphins
6) 50 Cents, 1979, Panda nut
7) 1 Dollar, 1979, Outrigger

A 2 dollar was issued and used on the islands in 1989, celebrating the 10th anniversary of independence.

[andyg]

New Caledonia, a modern type set.

These issues closely resemble the French Polynesian issues, since the two areas have the same currency, the CFP Franc.

1) 50 Centimes, 1949, now no longer used
2) 1 Franc, 1977
3) 2 FRancs, 1949
4) 5 Francs, 1952
5) 10 Francs, 1998
6) 20 Francs, 1970
7) 50 Francs, 1967
8 ) 100 Francs, 2006

again, any help with the designs of these greatly appreciated!

[Figleaf]

Does anyone know what the designs are of?

1) 50 Centimes, 1965, port scene
2) 1 Franc, 1982, port scene
3) 2 Francs, 2006, port scene
4) 5 Francs, 2007, port scene
5) 10 Francs, 2007, head of a god, to be put on a sacred stake
6) 20 Francs, 2007, Breadfruit (Artocarpus communis)
7) 50 Francs, 2007, Moorea island
8 ) 100 Francs, 2007, Moorea island

Peter

[Figleaf]

Fiji:

20 cents: whale tooth, to be worn as a necklace
50 cents: outrigger sailing ship

Peter

[Figleaf]

again, any help with the designs of these greatly appreciated!

1) 50 Centimes, 1949, Cagou, (Rhynochetos jubatus)
2) 1 Franc, 1977, Cagou, (Rhynochetos jubatus)
3) 2 FRancs, 1949, Cagou, (Rhynochetos jubatus)
4) 5 Francs, 1952, Cagou, (Rhynochetos jubatus)
5) 10 Francs, 1998, Pirogue (outrigger sailing ship)
6) 20 Francs, 1970, Zebu (Bos indicus)
7) 50 Francs, 1967, hut in forest
8 ) 100 Francs, 2006, hut in forest

Peter

[andyg]

Papua New Guinea, some older coins.

The first coins for New Guinea (the Northen half of the island) were issued in 1894, by the German New Guinea company, they are somewhat elusive to find. It was not until 1935 that a new coinage was produced for New Guinea, though this was short lived with coins being issued between 1935 and 1945 and in 4 denominations only. In the southern half (Papua) governed by Australia since 1904, British then Australian coinage was used.

1) 1 Penny, 1936, Another issue of Edward VIII (see Fiji)
2) 3 Pence, 1935
3) 6 Pence, 1943
4) 1 Shilling, 1938

[andyg]

Papua New Guinea, a modern type set.

New Guinea and Papua were combined after the second world war, independence from Australia was granted in 1975.

1) 1 Toea, 1978, Paradise wing butterfly
2) 2 Toea, 1976, Zebra fish
3) 5 Toea, 1984, Plateless turtle
4) 10 Toea, 1976, Cuscus
5) 20 Toea, 1975, Bennett's Cassowary
6) 1 Kina, 2005, Crocodile

50 Toea and 2 Kina have also been issued for circulation, but they do not have a standard design
7 ) 50 Toea, 1980, South Pacific festival of arts
8 ) 50 Toea, 1991, South Pacific games
9 ) 50 Toea, 1998, Bank silver jubilee
10) 50 Toea, 2000, 25 years of independence
11) 50 Toea, 2007, 50th anniversary of St. John ambulance
12) 50 Toea, 2008, 35th anniversary of Bank (with a colour bank logo)
13) 2 Kina, 2008, 35th anniversary of Bank (this may be NCLT)

[translateltd]

The 5c was revised too.   It's actually a very small amount larger than the earlier 5c (but indistinguishable in practice unless you line them up) and has a smooth edge rather than milled.  Not surprisingly, both old and new types of 5c were in circulation together when I was there last year.  I haven't heard of the dollar being out yet either - it was supposed to appear by the end of 2009 originally, I think.

Fiji, a modern type set

Starting 2009 the original 10, 20 and 50 decimal coins were revised, being issued in smaller sizes.

1) 5 Cents, 1990
2) 10 Cents 2009
3) 20 Cents 2009
4) 50 Cents 2009
5) 1 Dollar, 1995

There were plans for a new dollar coin, but as yet I've seen no evidence of a revised coin.

[andyg]

Samoa,

Samoa's first coins were issued in 1967, prior to which New Zealand coinage was used.
The first issue had the value in a wreath for the 1 and 2 sene, and the coat of arms for the 5, 10, 20 and 50 sene, these were revised from 1974 when pictorial designs were used. A commemorative 50 sene was issued in 1987 for the 25th anniversary of independence, more recently a special 2 sene was issued as part of the FAO 21st century food security.  Starting 2002 the 'I Sisifo' (Western) was dropped from the country name, Western Samoa became Samoa.

1) 1 Sene, 1967
2) 20 Sene, 1967
3) 2 Sene, 2000 FAO issue
4) 1 Sene,
5) 2 Sene,
6) 5 Sene, 2000
7) 10 Sene, 2000, Taro leaves
8 ) 20 Sene, 2002, Breadfruits
9 ) 50 Sene, 2002, Banana
10) 1 Tala, 2002, Coat of arms

All coins carried a portrait of head of state Malietoa Tanumafili II until 2007 when he died. There is an ongoing dispute regarding his successor, it remains to be seen how this will affect the coins.

[andyg]

The 5c was revised too.   It's actually a very small amount larger than the earlier 5c (but indistinguishable in practice unless you line them up) and has a smooth edge rather than milled.  Not surprisingly, both old and new types of 5c were in circulation together when I was there last year. 

I had a 2009 5 cent as part of the set, but I decided that it was so close to the earlier version I didn't bother to keep it.