| Coin | Silver Ounce 2016 Hakula - Sailfish |
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Tokelau, known previously as the Tokelau Islands, is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It uses the New Zealand Dollar as circulation currency, but has been issuing a variety of non-circulating coins since 1978, and has also authorised some foreign mints to issue bullion coins under its jurisdiction.
The silver ounce (abbreviated as 1 oz) is an internationally popular format, and is denominated as Five Dollars.
This design is the third issue in a twelve-year series of bullion coins called Marine Life (or Tokelau Sealife), and features the Sailfish.
The sailfish is one or two species of marine fish in the genus Istiophorus, which belong to the family Istiophoridae (marlins). They are predominantly blue to grey in colour and have a characteristically large dorsal fin known as the sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated rostrum (bill) consistent with that of other marlins and the swordfish, which together constitute what are known as billfish in sport fishing circles. Sailfish live in colder pelagic waters of all Earth's oceans, and hold the record for the fastest speed of any marine animals. |
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| Obverse | |
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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 small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: · ELIZABETH II TOKELAU 2016 · ~ FIVE DOLLARS - 1 oz 999 Silver ~.
Below the Queen's effigy is the national badge of Tokelau depicting a "tuluma" - a traditional Tokelauan carved wooden “tackle box” used by local fishermen. A cross in the centre of the tuluma and the inscription below, TOKELAU MO TE AUA ("Tokelau for God") reflect the strong influence of Christianity in Tokelau. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design shows a sailfish leaping above the ocean waves.
Around above, the inscription HAKULA - SAILFISH. Around below, TOKELAU. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
HAKULA - SAILFISH TOKELAU |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: loose, or 20 coins in mint tube, or 500 in sealed monster box.
The coins in the series were developed and produced by Australian company Treasures of Oz, with the initial silver pieces struck by the Highland Mint in the US, and the rest of the coins struck by B.H. Mayer in Germany. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Marine Life series include:
- 1 oz Silver, Kakahi - Yellowfin Tuna, 2014
- 1/2 oz Silver, Kakahi - Yellowfin Tuna, 2014
- 0.5 g Gold, Kakahi - Yellowfin Tuna, 2015
- 1 oz Silver, Mokoha - Great White Shark, 2015
- 0.5 Gold, Mokoha - Great White Shark, 2015
- 1 oz Silver, Hakula - Sailfish, 2016
- 1 oz Silver, Kapoa - Barracuda, 2017
- 1 oz Silver, Mago-Taguta - Leopard Shark, 2018
- 1 oz Silver, Fonu - Loggerhead, 2019
- 1 oz Gold, Hahave - Flying Fish, 2020
- 1 oz Silver, Hahave - Flying Fish, 2020
- 1 oz Gold, Tautu - Porcupine Fish, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Tautu - Porcupine Fish, 2021
- 1 oz Gold, Hakuhakulele - Lionfish, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Hakuhakulele - Lionfish, 2022
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