Apart from its regular circulating coinage, Solomon Islands has authorised a number of private mints to issue collector coins in precious metals, which are legal tender in the country but are not intended for general circulation. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes - typically, one ounce of silver (abbreviated as 1 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). These are usually dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to the country itself.
This Fender Stratocaster Silver Coin is part of a coin series from PAMP Suisse which features coins shaped as the objects they depict, and the final "Fender guitar" issue. It has a "Daphne Blue" colour.
The Mint says about it:
This legal tender coin in 999.9 fine silver honours the Stratocaster electric guitar, one of Fender’s most legendary innovations. First released in 1954, the Stratocaster found instant success thanks to its offset waist, double cutaway, elongated horns, and heavily contoured back - all designed for better balance and playing comfort. Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison, among many other famed musicians, relied on the Stratocaster to create their signature styles and sounds. |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In tiny letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley). The portrait is small and is in the left part of the obverse.
On the right, along the neck of the guitar, the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II · SOLOMON ISLANDS · 2 DOLLARS. In the upper right part of the body, the date of issue 2023; in the lower right, the unique serial number of the coin. |
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