Pitcairn Islands dollar Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Pitcairn Islands dollar
ISO 4217 Code	None
User(s)	Pitcairn Islands
Inflation	NA
Pegged by	New Zealand dollar
Subunit
1⁄100	cent
Symbol	$
cent	c
Nickname	none
Coins	5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2 (only New Zealand coins circulate officially)
Banknotes	$5, $10, $20, $50, $100 (New Zealand notes only)
Printer	Note Printing Australia (provides base polymer note material)

The Pitcairn Islands are a small group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are a British territory, which means they are connected to the United Kingdom. The main money used on the islands is the New Zealand dollar.

However, the Pitcairn Islands have also made their own special coins since 1988. These coins are called the Pitcairn Islands dollar. Even though they are official money and worth the same as the New Zealand dollar, they are not used for everyday shopping. Instead, they are mostly made to be sold to coin collectors around the world. Selling these unique coins helps the islands earn money.

The Pitcairn Islands have a very small population, only about 50 people in 2020. Only one of the four islands is lived on. Because there are so few people, there is no real need for local coins to be used every day. These special collector coins are a big part of the islands' small economy. They help raise funds for the government, which has a mostly fixed income.

Pitcairn Islands Coins: What They Look Like
See also

Pitcairn Islands Coins: What They Look Like

While New Zealand coins and banknotes are used for daily transactions, the Pitcairn Islands started making their own coin sets in 2009. These first sets included six different coins. They were made of copper-plated bronze (5 and 10 cents) and nickel-plated bronze (20 and 50 cents). There were also larger bronze coins for 1 and 2 dollars.

You could buy these coins in special sets or in rolls. They came in two types: "Uncirculated" (meaning they've never been used) and "Proof" (meaning they are made with extra care for collectors).

Designs on the Coins

Each coin has a picture of something important from the H.M.A.V. Bounty ship on its back. The Bounty is famous because of a mutiny that happened on it. The people who mutinied eventually settled on the Pitcairn Islands.

Here's what you can find on the back of each coin:

5 cents: The Bounty Anchor
10 cents: The Bounty ship's bell
20 cents: The Bounty Bible
50 cents: A Pitcairn longboat (a type of boat)
1 dollar: A Bounty cannon
2 dollars: The H.M.A.V. Bounty's Helm (the steering wheel)

The coins are similar in size and weight to coins from Niue, another Pacific island. The Pitcairn Islands set also includes a 5-cent coin, which New Zealand no longer uses.

Where Pitcairn Coins Are Made

Most of the Pitcairn Islands' coins are made in New Zealand. However, many special collector coins made of valuable metals (called bullion coins) have been made by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom. Other private companies also make coins for the Pitcairn Islands government.

The King on the Coins

Charles III is shown on the front of all Pitcairn Islands coins. He is the Head of State and King of the United Kingdom. Since the Pitcairn Islands are a British territory, his image is on their coins.

Buying Pitcairn Coins

Even though these coins are not used for daily shopping on the island, you can buy the coin sets. They are available at the Pitcairn Islands General Post Office in Adamstown, which is the capital.

Pound-Denominated Pieces

In 2021, the Pitcairn Islands started making some coins that were valued in pounds, not dollars. However, these pound coins are not considered official money. This is because the laws of the Pitcairn Islands say that only coins valued in dollars can be official money.

Pitcairn Islands dollar facts for kids

Contents