The Coins And Banknotes Of Fiji!

Before we get to those juicy florins, my standard collection got a bit larger!




1950 Halfpenny - Uncirculated

This is an important addition as the coin is of a type I did not have, showed the "King George the Sixth" effigy on a Penny or Halfpenny (The thread previously did not have this effigy displayed).

Plus none of these later George VI halfpennies are that common!

Even more interesting is an Uncirculated 1941 Penny, another date I did not have and not particularly common either!




Showing the inner and the Obverse of this coin

Even better is the metal deposit on the inner rim, possible Cud or poor finishing. I have not bothered with Reverse as you can see the reverse of early KGVI pennies on the post about them.

Very welcome additions.

Also just got 90% of all the decimal coins ever issued very cheaply including many scarce dates!

Florins - Part One - Georges

The biggest and most interesting of all the Fijian coins is the Florin. No Halfcrowns were issued mainly as there were 5 shilling notes circulating and thus no such coin was needed.

The other strange thing about the Florins, was the designs share the same blocky faux art deco look of most of Percy Metcalfe's work, the coat of arms is actually Kruger Grey's work (He often designed the shields/coats of arms).

And what a juicy coin these are, 11.32grams and 28.5mm in size, a big slab of a coin and with 50 or 90 % silver in the early days, this was a valuable piece. Especially in a low income society like Fiji.




1936 George V Florin - VF

The 3 years of George V all had Florins, a high first year coinage of 200k, and much lower numbers of 50k and 65k for 1935/36. My coin is a 1936.

King George VI also saw very low numbers of Florins for the first years, the 1937, 38 and 41 florins were only 30k and 20k for the 2 later years each. I have none of these coins as they are just mega rare. They cost real money too.

Again the 90% silver florins of 1942/43 are fairly common next to the others and I have 2 very examples of these.


1942 Florin AU


1943 Florin EF


The heads shot of these coins.

Mintages were high at 250k per year each and of all the silver Florins are the easiest to get despite the higher silver content.

Unlike the other silver coins, there was a further mintage of 100k coins in 1945 which were 50% silver like the earlier ones.

Ask and you shall receive.
But this is the only one I have.



Steve :)

Thanks NumisRob and Steve, I knew I could count on you guys.

Rob I don't think the 3d is an error, the first year of 1947 was still emperor days. My coins I showed were 1950 and 1952 after the change to "King George the Sixth" on the colonial coinage.

Also its the standard 1938/47 effigy, the 37 had the word King on the left side of George's head. But this would not exist for a coin only minted 1947 onwards.

But a welcome coin as we did not have any 1947 Threepences originally!

Not sure how I missed out on this topic when it premiered, but I am glad to have found it. Great stuff!

Fijian Decimal Coins - The Introduction

A great resource, the interesting tale of dealing with banknotes that will not burn and the dumping of 3d coins over deep water (They were not recyclable like the rest)
https://www.rbf.gov.fj/core-functio...is-currency/

Decimal day in Fiji was January 13th 1969 and some 33.8 million coins were placed into circulation (Bear in mind it was 270 million in New Zealand and some 1.45 billion in Australia). Unlike those countries the coins stopped at 20 cents - well okay they put out 70k of a large dollar commemorative - but these were meant as souvenirs rather than circulation coins (Notes from 50 cents to $20 were also issued), some did circulate.



The set of 5 coins released in 1969 (There will be MANY more images of the various coins).

Fijian decimal coins are more complicated than predecimal ones and there were several phases I will follow.

1. Cupronickel large coins 1969 - 1987
2. Steel large coins 1990 - 2006
3. Steel small coinage 2009 - 2014
Including 2012 non Queen coinage.

Later additions to the Fijian coin lineup.

First of all Fiji did not convert to decimal currency with Australia or New Zealand. When these countries convertyed several Pacific Island nations and territories followed.

Australia converted on February 14th 1966 and with them followed Papua and New Guinea, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands (Now Tuvalu and Kiribati).

New Zealand followed suit 17 months later on July 10 1967 and with them the NZ territories of Tokelau, Cook Islands, Niue and also the nations of Western Samoa and Tonga adopted decimal currencies.

The French and American territories were already decimal so that left Fiji all alone using sterling until 1969!

A total of 33.8 million coins were minted at Llantrisant and Canberra and stored in a new lock up vault next to Government buildings. Public education had carried on since 1967 and all the coins were dated 1969.

To add to this, Fiji would gain independence finally on 10 October 1970, so a new coinage would complement it.

More soon.

Decimal coins the Designs - Part 1

A basic introduction to all the coin designs used 1969 - 2017 In 3 posts, this post basic 1969 designs
2nd post, later designs
3rd post some special and one off designs.

My information is from the Online coin club page, Reserve Bank of Fiji and Numista websites.

Fijian words are italics, for plurals I have not used "s" as Fijian like most Melanesian and Polynesian languages does use plurals in a word but through the preceding conjunctive words like na (singular) etc.



1 cent - 1969 to 2006, Kava serving bowl - Tanoa

This shows a Kava serving bowl known as a Tanoa. The Fijians call Kava, the native alcohol of the Pacific - Yaqona and the presentation and consumption of it in a ceremony is called Sevusevu. The participants sit in a circle in which the Kava is scooped from the Tanoa and passed and drunk from a dipper (Previously coconut shell, now a cup or large tin) around the circle, each person takes a mouthful and passes the dipper around. The kava ceremony is done throughout Polynesia and Melanesia except New Zealand where it is too cold for Kava to grow, but this does not stop Pasifika people using it.

Kava is a leafy plant with a root in which the drink is made from. It has alcoholic, sedative and euphoric properties. Tanoa are made from hardwood, although in the past Turtle shells, gourds and lately metal have been used - traditional ones and this one are hardwood.

Although traditional and a nice process in moderation, Kava drinking in excess can lead to drunkeness and violence and is also considered unhygenic as people often drink the Kava in a communal "Loving cup ceremony" which can spread germs. During Fiji's current Covid outbreak, Kava ceremonies have been banned or limited in most areas.

The Tanoa will also make another appearance on the $2 coin in 2012.


2 cents 1969 - 2006, Palm leaf fan

This coin shows a fan made out of palm leaf, it is merely used to keep the holder cool and is an ancient adaption to the hot climate of the Islands. It does not state on the Fijian Bank website, Online coin club or Numista what palm it is made from.



5 cents - Fijian drum or Tali, 1969 - present

This is a large drum seen in Fijian villages. the Tali is the hollowed out trunk of some large Hardwood tree and also has a large slit at the top. Included are one or two "Drumsticks" made out of a wood with percussive qualities. These drums give out a loud resonant sound and really are part of the "Bush drums", used to communicate from village to village and also an intravillage communication device, Tali are a unique part of traditional Fijian culture. On a more practical level they are used in music and dance on these islands too.


10 cents - Throwing club - Ula tavatava - 1969 - present

This is a old throwing club with a notched and multi bulbed head designed to crack your foe's skull open in war. A traditional war instrument again made out of wood. Rumour has it this particular club is based on one owned by King Cakobau who ceded the Fijian Islands to the British in 1874 and ruled outright by himself earlier on.


20 cents - Whale tooth ornament - Tabua
1969 - Present.

A traditional ornament to be worn around the neck, this tabua features a large whale's tooth and is on a coconut fibre rope (Known as Muka in Maori, but not sure about Fijian word). The ornaments are precious and often passed down generation to generation, the Fijian form of a Hei Tiki.


One Dollar 1969 - Coat of Arms

The one off dollar of 1969 featured a coat of arms showing the Fijian shield with a Fijian outrigger at top and the Fijian on the right holds a ula tavatava. The motto underneath is in Fijian "Rerevaka na talou ka doka na Tui" - Fear God and Honour the King (Peter 2:10) a verse relevant to Fiji and from the Bible.

Not my image as I don't have it yet.

The coins are slightly wonky as these are scans, I wanted sharp images for this post!

Some great information there PrinceTane. I always wondered what that was on the $1 coin, but never got around to looking it up.
Here is a picture from my trip to Fiji in 2013, showing a kava making ceremony, not a traditional one, but just staged for us tourist. No I didn't try the kava for the reason PrinceTane stated before. Everyone drinking from the same cup.


Steve :)