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 Replies: 14 / Views: 4,770 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1244 Posts |
(from news-com-au)
IT MIGHT be four coups late, but the Republic of Fiji has finally dropped the image of Queen Elizabeth II from its currency.
The island nation declared itself independent from Britain soon after the first coup in 1987.
Almost a quarter of a century later, the man responsible for Fiji's fourth coup, self-appointed prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has announced that the monarch's portrait would be scrapped from coins.
Her image would be replaced with native flora and fauna, the leader said in a statement.
"Important and iconic flora and fauna of Fiji has been selected to replace Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's portrait and to feature on the obverse side of the new $2 coin," Bainimarama said.
"A tanoa (traditional kava bowl), which was previously featured on the Fiji one cent coin, has been selected for the reverse side of the new $2 coin, in line with the cultural items featured on other existing Fiji coins."
The country hasn't severed all ties from Britain, however.
The Union Jack remains on the flag and Fijians are still treated to a holiday on the Queen's birthday in June.
"These things take time it seems," Fiji expert Professor Brij Lal said.
(from news-com-au)
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
they've been "suspended" from the Commonwealth for a while.
I wonder who mints the coinage of Fiji ?
Peter in Darwin
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Moderator
 Australia
16810 Posts |
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I wonder who mints the coinage of Fiji ? The lowest bidder, I presume. RAM, RCM, SAM, Royal Mint... whichever is cheapest. 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
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Wonder if Canada will become a country some day?
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
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Wonder if Canada will become a country some day?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
ShaftA9a: forgive him - Seppos aren't good at geography.
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Valued Member
Cyprus
349 Posts |
Any pics of the new designs?
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Valued Member
Canada
94 Posts |
 That has to be one of the worst strikings of Elizabeth II I've ever seen. Where is the detail? Quote:
Wonder if Canada will become a country some day?  One can only hope! |
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New Member
United States
39 Posts |
I have tons of the "new" downsized coins, so far all of them feature Queen Elizabeth. But maybe that's because they're all dated 2009. When are they planning on starting this? This is very exciting because I have quite a collection from Fiji but sad as I always liked seeing her image on coins. Speaking of Canada, I believe RCM currently makes their coins. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
NickleHalfDime: You have hit on what, for me, is a very sore point in the way the Royal Australian Mint produces it's proof coins. As you have quite rightly pointed out, the detail is far too coarsely sand blasted to produce the cameo effect. I reckon that it looks 'orrible! Modern proof coins are normally have polished fields, where both the field area of the die and the whole of the blank are polished. The fields are masked on the die, and the detail that appears raised on the coin is sand blasted, as mentioned above. The RAM just goes overboard with the sand blasting, which is far too coarse. The British Royal Mint does a far better job with the cameo effect, where the raised detail on the coin is almost all left intact, after the sand blasting process. Another method of producing the cameo effect is to acid etch the detail; perhaps this the method that the British Royal Mint uses. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
524 Posts |
Why do so many countries still keep Queen Elizabeth on their coins? You would think an independent country would want their own designs. Maybe they would prefer the Queen over having dead Presidents on everything like someone else we know.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Germany
992 Posts |
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Why do so many countries still keep Queen Elizabeth on their coins? Because Her Majesty is still their head of state? |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
BLUEZONE: The United States of America has her heritage.
British Commonwealth countries also have their heritage.
Like it or not (and some don't), Austalia has it's beginnings that originated from Great Britain.
Like it on not (and some don't), Australia has Her Maj. as Head of State.
Like it or not (and some don't), the U.S. has Obama as President.
The administration of the Queen in Australia as Head of State costs a lot less than the administration of the Office of the President of the United States.
Executive decisions in Australia are made by a Cabinet of a select group of Parliamentry Members.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3402 Posts |
My collecting of GB and British Commonwealth coins stop at GVI. Too much bullion after that.
On a lighter note to biggfredd: Canada is scheduled to become the 52nd State of the Union (USA), right after Puerto Rico becomes the 51st. Canada's contribution will be the how to on socialized medicine. Like chicken soup, it couldn't hurt.
KK
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
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I wonder who mints the coinage of Fiji ? Since 2009 the new, downsized, steel cored coins are minted by the Royal Canadian Mint. Has anyone yet seen one of the new coins without the queen? As recently as November I was in Fiji and not one was to be seen circulating. Jeff |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 4,770 |
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Posted 03/03/2011 04:26 am
