| Coin | Silver Ounce 2017 Happy Diwali |
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The Tuvaluan Dollar is the currency of Tuvalu - a small nation in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu has never had banknotes of its own, and has been issuing coins since 1976; these circulate together with coins of the Australian Dollar, which is also legal tender in the country, and to which the Tuvaluan Dollar is pegged.
The Australian Perth Mint issues a large variety of non-circulating legal tender coins under the authority of Tuvalu. Some of these are in the silver ounce format (abbreviated as 1 oz). Strictly speaking, they are not bullion as they are priced at a premium and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic merit and collectable value and not just for their precious metal content.
This coin was issued to celebrate the Diwali Festival in 2017. The Mint says about it:
Diwali is an ancient five day Hindu "festival of lights". Celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world, is it considered one of the happiest holidays in India and Nepal. The main theme of the festival is the triumph of light over darkness, goodness over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. |
| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Letter P |
Total Mintage |
5,000
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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: QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1 oz 9999 Ag 2017 TUVALU 1 DOLLAR.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "1 oz 9999 Ag" means "one ounce of 99.99% silver" ("Ag" is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver). |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin features a coloured representation of Lakshmi sitting on a lotus flower with gold coins pouring out of her (four) hands, symbolising material and spiritual wealth.
The design includes the inscription happy diwali (divided by the figure of the goddess, and written in the style of an Indian alphabet), and the Perth Mint’s traditional P mint mark below right.
The designer's initials JM (for Jennifer McKenna) are on the lotus below right. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
happy diwali |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 1.000
Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated, coloured.
Packaging: in a latex case which displays both sides of the coin and illustrated shipper, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. |
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| See also |
Coins and medals issued by the Perth Mint to celebrate Diwali include:
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, Happy Diwali, Tuvalu 2017
- $1 Coloured, Happy Diwali, Tuvalu 2017
- 1 g Gold, Happy Diwali, Tuvalu 2018
- 1 oz Silver Coloured, Happy Diwali, Tuvalu 2018
- $1 Coloured, Happy Diwali, Tuvalu 2018
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Diwali Medallion, 2019
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Diwali Medallion, 2020
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Diwali Medallion, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Gilded Diwali Medallion, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Gilded Diwali Medallion, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Gilded Diwali Medallion, 2024
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