1937 Fiji Penny - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 3 / Views: 5,706
Sattgast New Member United States 2 Posts	Posted 08/03/2008 05:00 am Hello all. I'm a newbie on here and I am posting in response to an earlier post by Silver Gorilla who was seeking info on a 1937 Fiji Penny in his possession. I'm also seeking much the same. See, I also have this coin -- a 1937 Fiji Penny with the hole in the middle and on the reverse side Emperor King George VI. And from what I can tell, my coin is in better condition than the one that was posted. It has retained its silver color. I'm also interested in the value of this coin. However, I plan to keep it. It has a lot of personal value to me. It was a coin given to my grandfather by my Uncle George Fisher who was serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. George's ship, the U.S.S. Chicago had made a visit to Fiji during the war and that's where he got the coin. Not long afterward, George was killed in action when the Japanese torpedoed the U.S.S. Chicago during the Battle of Rennel Island. So that's why it has personal value to me. It sounds like the coin is rare. I'm not certain the value. So that's why I googled it and found postings on it here. I'm in Shelton, Washington. Anyone with info on this coin is welcome to respond to my e-mail if you wish at sattgast at hctc.com. Thanks! John Sattgast E-mail link removed and edited to avoid spambot detection. Edited by Sap 08/03/2008 05:09 am Report this Post to the Staff

Sap Moderator Australia 16830 Posts	Posted 08/03/2008 05:12 am I'm afraid this coin isn't particularly rare. It has a mintage of 360,000 which would sound low for a US coin, but it's actually quite high for a Fijian one. Catalogue value according to my book is $3 in EF, $7.50 in Unc. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
Peter THOMAS Pillar of the Community Australia 2830 Posts	Posted 08/03/2008 09:16 am G'day, I have a 1936 Fiji penny, which in most respects is quite similar to your coin. The colour has interested me: I gather that the coin is made from cupro-nickel, but I'm not sure in what proportions. It certainly has a different colour to other CuNi coins with which I am familiar. Other coins minted for use in the British Empire are similar: far example British West Africa. The hole in the centre was a common feature of colonial coins. I've heard it said that this was to facilitate storage of coins on string, to be worn around the neck. Apparently, the traditional polynesian grass skirt had insufficient pockets. Regarding the Battle of Rennel Island: other readers may find the following link informative - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle...nnell_Island Coins like that have a special place in any collection. AND: welcome to the Forum. Peter in Oz Edited by Peter THOMAS 08/03/2008 09:24 am Report this Post to the Staff
Sattgast New Member United States 2 Posts	Posted 08/03/2008 9:01 pm Thanks Peter and Sap. Funny to note that when I got this coin in 1978 as a young guy, I put it on a chain and wore it around my neck for some time. :-) Thanks for the posting on the value. To me, it has sentimental value that is worth more than the price. Also, thanks for the posting on the Battle of Rennell Island. It's an interesting story. Many men, including my cousin, made it off the U.S.S. Chicago after it had been torpedoed. Unfortunately, my uncle had been killed instantly when the torpedo struck the engine room where he was working. So I keep the coin as a reminder of an uncle who served with honor in the U.S. Navy. Thanks again for your replies. John Sattgast Shelton, WA Report this Post to the Staff
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