The

Pitcairn Islands The Pitcairn Islands (; Pitkern: '), officially the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, is a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the sole British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean. The four is ...

is a non-sovereign

British overseas territory The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remnants of the former Br ...

and the New Zealand dollar is used as exchange. The Pitcairn Islands began issuing its first commemorative coins in 1988. Though the Pitcairn Islands dollar is not a true currency in the strict sense of the word, and is not used as a circulation coinage, it can be lawfully exchanged as tender. The Pitcairn Islands dollar exists only because of the coin collecting market, which provides a major staple for the island nation. Having a population of only 50 according to the 2020 census, and with only one island in the group of four being populated, there is no need for local coinage. Coins consist of an important part of the Pitcairn Islands' tiny economy and help raise funds for the government's largely fixed and subsidised income.

Coins

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

coins and notes are circulated in the

. However, the Pitcairn Islands began issuing its first denominational coin set in 2009. They were in six denominations of copper-plated bronze 5, and 10 Cents, nickel-plated bronze 20, and 50 Cents, and bronze , and pieces. They come in Uncirculated and Proof conditions and could be acquired in packaged sets or in rolls. The reverse of each coin depicts a relic from H.M.A.V. ''

Bounty Bounty or bounties commonly refers to: * Bounty (reward), an amount of money or other reward offered by an organization for a specific task done with a person or thing Bounty or bounties may also refer to: Geography * Bounty, Saskatchewan, a g ...

'' along with its description and the coin's respective denomination. This is surrounded by a fine border. The coins are of similar size, weight, and colouration to those of a similar set from

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between T ...

. The Pitcairn Islands set also has the addition of a 5 Cents piece which New Zealand no longer uses. A majority of Pitcairn Islands coins are minted in New Zealand. But many

bullion Bullion is non-ferrous metal that has been refined to a high standard of elemental purity. The term is ordinarily applied to bulk metal used in the production of coins and especially to precious metals such as gold and silver. It comes fro ...

commemoratives have also been made by the

Royal Mint The Royal Mint is the United Kingdom's oldest company and the official maker of British coins. Operating under the legal name The Royal Mint Limited, it is a limited company that is wholly owned by HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury and is un ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

and other private mints under the order of the Pitcairn Islands Government. The coin reverses depict as follows: *5 CENTS: Bounty Anchor *10 CENTS: Bounty Ship Bell *20 CENTS: Bounty Bible *50 CENTS: Pitcairn Longboat *1 DOLLAR: Bounty Cannon *2 DOLLARS: H.M.A.V. ''Bounty''s Helm

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states durin ...

is depicted on all coins of the Pitcairn Islands as Head of State and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of which the Pitcairn Islands are a territory. Although the coins are not circulating on the island, the coin sets may be purchased at the Pitcairn Island General Post Office in the capital of Adamstown. In 2021 the island started issuing " fifty pence" coins, including a set commemorating Beano comic characters.

References

* * Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed. ed.). Krause Publications. . * {{Currencies of Oceania Currencies of the Commonwealth of Nations Currencies of Oceania Pitcairn Islands Currencies introduced in 1988

Coins

See also

References