Silver Half Ounce 2011 Deep Sea Fish - Melanostomias Biseriatus, Coin from Pitcairn Islands - detailed information

The Pitcairn Islands is a non-sovereign British overseas territory in the Pacific Ocean. Having a population of fewer than fifty people, the territory has no need for local coinage and uses the New Zealand dollar as a medium of exchange. Pitcairn Islands began issuing its first commemorative coins in 1988. Though the Pitcairn Islands dollar is not a true currency in the strict sense of the word and is not used as a circulation coinage, it can be lawfully exchanged as tender and is considered a variety of the New Zealand dollar (although it is not legal tender in New Zealand). The Pitcairn Islands dollar exists only because of the coin collecting market, which provides a major staple for the tiny island nation.

The coins are struck by various foreign mints and use internationally popular formats, such as the half ounce (1/2oz) of silver. Some of them are released at prices much higher than their intrinsic value - such as this one - so are classified as Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) (for those sold at a low margin, see the bullion silver half ounce section instead).

The Melanostomias Biseriatus coloured silver coin is part of a series issued for the Pitcairn Islands which features Marine Life.

Melanostomias biseriatus is a species of ray-finned fish native to the deep waters of the Eastern Atlantic. It is a fairly long fish and the longest specimen measured 25 cm.