One Dollar 2012 The Twelve Apostles - Thomas, Coin from Fiji - detailed information

The Fijian Dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents.

Apart from the regular circulating dollar coins, Fiji has authorised a number of private mints to issue collector coins which are legal tender in the country but are not intended for general circulation. These are usually made using "smartminting" or other innovative techniques.

This coin is part of a 12-coin series by the Helvetic Mint featuring the Twelve Apostles from the Bible, and shows one of them - Thomas.

Thomas the Apostle (Biblical Hebrew: תוֹמָאס הקדוש‎; Ancient Greek: Θωμᾶς; Coptic: ⲑⲱⲙⲁⲥ; Malayalam: തോമസ് അപ്പസ്തോലൻ Tōmas appastōlan), also called Didymus ("twin") was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Thomas is commonly known as "Doubting Thomas" because he doubted Jesus' resurrection when first told of it (as related in the Gospel of John alone); later, he confessed his faith, "My Lord and my God," on seeing Jesus' crucifixion wounds. According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas is believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Malabar Coast which is in modern-day Kerala State, India.

The Mint says about the series:
"Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer with God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Peter (the Prince of the Apostles), Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Lesser, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. The Lord chose these holy men for their unfeigned love, and gave them eternal glory. Their message goes out through all the earth until nowadays. Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the end of the world, their message. We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you."