| Coin | Silver Ounce 2017 Kapoa - Barracuda |
|---|
|
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 - including in the internationally popular silver ounce format.
This design is the fourth issue in a twelve-year series of bullion coins called Marine Life (or Tokelau Sealife), and features the Barracuda.
The barracuda is a large, predatory, ray-finned fish known for its fearsome appearance and ferocious behaviour. The barracuda is a saltwater fish of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae. It is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide ranging from the eastern border of the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, on its western border the Caribbean Sea, and in tropical areas of the Pacific Ocean. Barracudas reside near the top of the water and near coral reefs and sea grasses. |
|
|
| Obverse | |
|---|
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 2017 · ~ 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. |
|
|
| Reverse | |
|---|
The reverse design shows a barracuda swimming in the ocean, with a school of more fish seen behind it.
Around above, the inscription KAPOA - BARRACUDA. Around below, TOKELAU. |
|
| Reverse Inscription |
KAPOA - BARRACUDA TOKELAU |
|---|
|
| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
|
| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: loose, or 20 coins in mint tube, or 500 in sealed monster box. |
|---|
|
| 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
- 1 oz Gold, Laulaufau - Longfin Bannerfish, 2024
- 1 oz Silver, Laulaufau - Longfin Bannerfish, 2024
|
|---|
|
Search for Tokelau: Silver Ounce 2017 Kapoa - Barracuda on eBay 