Coins of the Fijian pound facts for kids
| Fiji | |
| Value | Various Various |
|---|---|
| Obverse | |
| Reverse | |
Imagine money from a long time ago! The coins of the Fijian pound were the actual coins used in Fiji when its money was called the Fijian pound. These coins were used before Fiji switched to the Fijian dollar.
Contents
Coins of King George V (1934-1936)
The first coins for the Fijian pound were made during the reign of King George V. These coins were minted between 1934 and 1936.
Coin Types and Materials
- Smallest coins were ½ and 1 penny. They had a hole in the middle and were made of copper-nickel.
- Larger coins included 6 pence, 1 shilling, and the florin. These were made of silver.
- Paper money (notes) for 10 shillings, 1 pound, and 5 pounds were also used.
Coin Designs
The ½ and 1 penny coins showed a crown and the king's name on one side. The other side had the coin's value, the country, and the year it was made.
For the larger coins, King George V's picture was on the front. The back of these coins featured special designs:
- The sixpence coin showed a turtle.
- The shilling coin featured an outrigger canoe.
- The florin coin displayed Fiji's coat of arms.
These cool designs were kept for coins made by later kings and queens too!
Coins of King Edward VIII (1936)
King Edward VIII had a very short time as king. Because of this, coins with his name were only made for one year, in 1936.
Special One-Year Issue
About 120,000 penny coins were made with his name on them. They read "EDWARD VIII KING EMPEROR". This makes them quite unique because they were only minted for a very brief period.
Coins of King George VI (1937-1952)
King George VI was the next ruler to have his image on Fiji's coins. His coins were made in two main periods.
As Emperor of India (1937-1947)
During this time, King George VI was also known as the Emperor of India. Some coins from 1942 and 1943 have a special "S" mark. This "S" means they were made at the San Francisco mint in the United States.
The two smallest coins (½ and 1 penny) were made of brass during this period. The larger coins were made with a higher silver content (90% silver) than British coins of the time (which were 50% silver).
As King Only (1948-1952)
After 1947, King George VI was no longer Emperor of India. The coins made from 1948 to 1952 reflected this change.
A special 12-sided three pence coin was introduced. It was made of nickel-brass. This coin was the same size and weight as the British three pence coin from that time. The back of this coin showed a traditional Fijian thatched building, called a "bure," with palm trees around it. This design was created by a New Zealand artist named Reginald George James Berry.
Coins of Queen Elizabeth II (1953-1968)
The last set of Fijian pound coins were made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. These coins were minted from 1953 until 1968.
Final Pound Coin Series
Coins of all values were made with Queen Elizabeth II's image. The words on these coins simply read "QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND". These coins were the last ones used before Fiji changed its money system to the Fijian dollar.
See also
