298) Papua New Guinea: A Commemorative Uncirculated Coin set brought out in 1995 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Independence:

298) Papua New Guinea: A Commemorative Uncirculated Coin set brought out in 1995 to celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of Independence:

For more on the “history of Papua New Guinea” and the “evolution of Currency/Coinage of Papua New Guinea”, please click on the following link: (Bank of Papua New Guinea: 35th Anniversary Celebrations: Issue of a Commemorative set of Two Kina (K2) Banknote and a Two Kina (K2) Coin).

The above is an image of the Front of the Cover of the Coin Album Case containing the Commemorative Coin Set. On the top centre is mentioned “BANK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA”. In the centre is depicted a stylised numeral “20” inter-laced with a stylised image of the Bird-of-Paradise. Towards the bottom is given the year of issue “1995”, below which is mentioned “COMMEMORATIVE UNCIRCULATED COIN SET”.

The above is an image of the Back of the Cover of the Coin Album Case containing the Commemorative Coin Set. In the Centre is the Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea depicting the Bird-of-Paradise perched on a traditional spear and a “Kundu” (Drum). Below the emblem is mentioned the name of the country “PAPUA NEW GUINEA”.

The above is an image of the Cover of the Coin Album, showing a rising Sun on the tree-lined shores of Papua New Guinea along the South-Pacific Ocean bordering the country. Mentioned on the Cover is “BANK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 1995 COMMEMORATIVE UNCIRCULATED COIN SET”.

The second page of the Coin Album shows the Flag of Papua New Guinea together with a stylised image of the Bird-of-Paradise which forms a part of the Emblem of Papua New Guinea.

This page also contains a brief description:

“Papua New Guinea celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary of political Independence from Australia on Sixteenth September 1995. Sixteenth September is significant in that, twenty years ago in 1975, the new nation of Papua New Guinea was born and joined soon after, an equally proud community of independent nations around the world.

Papua New Guinea became a colony of Great Britain and Germany in 1884 and in 1888, Papua was a British Protectorate. It then became a colony of Great Britain in 1888 and continued with that status until 1906. Papua then became Australian Papua and continued to do so, until 1942, when both Papua and New Guinea came under the control and direction of the Australian Military rule."

The above is an image of Page three of the Coin Album showing the Obverse faces of the six-coin set comprising the denominations of 1 Kina (K1) and 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Toea coins, with a stylised Bird-of-Paradise in the background.

The above is an image of Page four of the Coin Album showing the Reverse faces of the six-coin set comprising the denominations of 1 Kina (K1) and 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Toea coins.

 The Reverse of One Kina (K1) coin depicts the Bank of Papua New Guinea Logo.

The Reverses of all denominations from 20 Toea downwards, i.e. 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 show the official Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea.

The above is an image of the Obverse of the One Kina (K1) coin showing Sea and River Crocodiles.

The above is an image of the Reverse of the One Kina (K1) coin showing the Bank of Papua New Guinea Logo.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 1 Kina; Diameter: 33.30 mm with a hole measuring 6.90 mm in diameter; Weight: 14.52 grams; Thickness: 2.60 mm; Edge: Milled; Alloy: Cupro-Nickel; Shape: Round.
 In 2006,the size of the 1 Kina coin was reduced and the larger coin variety depicted above was demonetised on 31.12.2008.

The above is an image of the Twenty Toea (20t) coin showing a Cassowary.

                         An image of a Southern Cassowary

 Cassowary (Malay name “kasuari”): These are flightless birds (ratites) without a keel on their sternum bone in the genus Casuarius and are residents of the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, nearby islands and North-Eastern Australia. There are 3 extant species – Southern cassowary or double-wattled cassowary, Dwarf Cassowary or Bennett’s cassowary and Northern cassowary or single-wattled cassowary. The most common of these, the Southern Cassowary is the third tallest and second heaviest living bird, smaller only than the ostrich and emu. Cassowaries feed mainly on fruit, although all species are omnivorous feeding, in addition to plant food, on invertebrates and small vertebrates.

These birds are very shy but get aggressive when provoked and can cause injuries to people and animals like dogs.

The above is an image of the Reverse of the 20 Toea (20t) coin showing the Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 20 Toea; Diameter: 28.65 mm; Weight: 11.30 grams; Thickness: 2.52 mm; Edge: Milled; Alloy: Cupro-Nickel; Shape: Round.

 

The above is an image of the Ten Toea (10t) coin showing a Cuscus.

                                         An image of a Cuscus

The Admiralty Island Cuscus: This is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae, endemic to the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea. It is the smallest member of the genus Spilocuscus. The female has a black back, while the male has blackish spots on a white background. Both genders have rufous heads. It is listed as “Near Threatened” (NT) in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification because of decline in both quality of habitat and number of individuals. In addition, increasing human population pressures have been a cause for concern for its declining population.

The above is an image of the Reverse of the 10 Toea (10t) coin showing the Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 10 Toea; Diameter: 23.72 mm; Weight: 5.65 grams; Thickness: 1.98 mm; Edge: Milled; Alloy: Cupro-Nickel; Shape: Round.

The above is an image of the Five Toea (5t) coin showing a Plate-less Turtle. 

                                       An image of a plateless turtle

Australasian pig-nosed turtle or Plate-less turtle (or “Carettochelys insculpta”): This is a species of soft-shelled turtle native to freshwater streams, lagoons and rivers of Australia and of Southern New Guinea.

The above is an image of the Reverse of the 5 Toea (5t) coin showing the Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 5 Toea; Diameter: 19.53 mm; Weight: 2.83 grams; Thickness: 1.55 mm; Edge: Milled; Alloy: Cupro-Nickel; Shape: Round.

The above is an image of the Two Toea (2t) coin showing an Ornate Butterfly Cod.

                                 Images of a Butter-fly Cod

“Pterios” or Butterfly-Cod or turkey-fish or fire-fish or zebra-fish or lion-fish:  This fish is characterised by conspicuous coloration with red, white, creamy or black bands, showy pectoral fins and venomous spiky fin rays. It is a predator native to the Indo-Pacific waters. It is found around the seaward edge of reefs and corals, in lagoons and on rocky surfaces upto 50 metres depth. It preys on small fish and invertebrates. It is also a popular aquarium fish.

The above is an image of the Reverse of the Two Toea (2t) coin showing the Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 2 Toea; Diameter: 21.72 mm; Weight: 4.15 grams; Thickness: 1.78 mm; Edge: Plain; Alloy: Copper-plated Zinc; Shape: Round.

The above is an image of the One Toea (1t) coin showing a Wing Butterfly.

            Images of Male and Female Bird-Wing Butterflies

Queen Alexandra’s Bird-wing Butterfly: is named after King Edward VII’s wife. This butterfly is the world’s largest butterfly and has a wing-span of about 1 ft. or 30 cms. Residing in the rain forests in Oro Province in Northern Papua New Guinea, it is rarely seen. It is a fast flying butterfly.The females are velvety black with cream patches and bright yellow abdomens. They are almost one-third larger than the males, which are iridescently patterned gold, turquoise, green and black. The species is listed as “Endangered” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’ list.

Their biggest threat is progressive habitat clearance. The butterfly has lost much of its range due to perpetually expanding oil palm plantation, coffee and cocoa growing and logging is destroying this butterfly’s habitat and is predominantly confined to a small area on a plateau called Mamgalas.

The above is an image of the Reverse of the One Toea (1t) coin showing the Emblem/Crest of Papua New Guinea.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 1 Toea; Diameter: 17.65 mm; Weight: 2.07 grams; Thickness: 1.42 mm; Edge: Plain; Alloy: Copper-plated Zinc; Shape: Round.

In 2006, the 1 and 2 Toea coins were withdrawn and ceased to be legal tender from 19.04.2007 onwards.

(The above commemorative coin-set has been brought for my Coin Collection by Jayant Biswas from his recent trip to the USA. Post researched and written & coins scanned and uploaded by Rajeev Prasad)









Links to Posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this blog:

1) Bank of Papua New Guinea: 36th Anniversary Celebrations (1973-2008): A Commemorative Uncirulated Coin Set consisting of a 2 Kina Banknote & a 2 Kina Coin

2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence 

 3) Currency & Coinage of the Soloman Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues