Kingdom of Tonga

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by Siberian Man, Sep 24, 2020.

  1. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    I got this 1981 Tuvalu set for the octopus coin. You might like to get the 9 sided turtle coin. My coins are not for sale.

    $_12 (5)yyyy copy 2.jpg
    $_12 (5)xxxxx copy 2.jpg
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Thomas Tosh

    Thomas Tosh Pigtown Hooker

    Very nice! Gonna have to keep an eye out for that one.
     
  4. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    I think @Hiddendragon also collects some nice turtle coins.
     
    Hiddendragon likes this.
  5. Hiddendragon

    Hiddendragon World coin collector

  6. Thomas Tosh

    Thomas Tosh Pigtown Hooker

    Amazing collection! Very impressive, I imagine you have been working on this for quite awhile.

    thanks for sharing
     
    spirityoda and Hiddendragon like this.
  7. Muzyck

    Muzyck Rabbits!

    It's too bad the coins only issues only go back 70 years. Here is a 4 shillings note from an earlier time.

    Tonga four shillings front L.jpg

    Tonga four shillings back L.jpg
     
    Chris B, Siberian Man and spirityoda like this.
  8. Muzyck

    Muzyck Rabbits!

    Getting back on topic, here is another Pa'anga

    Tonga - 1 Pa'anga, 1977

    Tonga Paanga 1977 obv.jpg

    Tonga Paanga 1977 rev.jpg
     
  9. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    1 seniti 1968, bronze, weight - 1.85 g., size - 17,5 mm, thickness - 1,4 mm, mintage - 500000 pcs. Single release. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
    3.jpg 4.jpg
     
  10. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    50 seniti 1967, copper-nickel, proof, weight - 18,14 mm, size - 34,5 mm, thickness - 2,5 mm, mintage - 5000 pcs. Single release. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006). Portrait of his mother - queen Salote Tupou III (1918-1965).
    19.jpg 20.jpg
     
    Muzyck and spirityoda like this.
  11. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Note the "DB" designer's initials on the first coins of Tonga from 1967.

    Those are the initials of Dudley Moore Blakely (1902-1982), a skilled sculptor and painter. He and his wife Elsa ("Judy") traveled to Tonga in the 1950s and '60s as Pioneers (sort of like missionaries) for the Baha'i Faith. He designed the kingdom's first independent coinage.

    [​IMG]

    Mr. Blakely was a friend of my family and taught me woodcarving when I was a young teenager. His house here on St. Simons Island, Georgia was full of mementos of their time in Tonga, and had woven Polynesian grass mats on the floor instead of carpeting. His paintings and carvings were everywhere. Dudley was a colorful character and drove around in a beautiful one-owner 1956-T-bird that still had Hawaii license plates on it.

    One time when we were in his workshop, he showed me a proof set of coins- including gold- which were the very first strikes of Tonga's coinage! He had the original plaster models for the dies in his workshop, too.

    He died suddenly in 1982 and Judy had to go into a nursing home. The person who had power of attorney over their estate sold their house and its contents, and there is no telling what became of those first-strike Tongan coins. Whoever owns them today probably does not realize how special they are.

    Dudley and Judy Blakely are buried here on the island, next to my grandmother. I am fortunate to have known them, young though I was at the time.

    One day I hope to own a nice 1967 proof Tongan coin to remember Mr. Blakely by. Maybe one of the gold ones, if I can afford one.
     
  12. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    10 seniti 1975, copper-nickel, weight - 5,65 g., size - 23,5 mm, mintage - 750000 pcs. "FAO". Such coins were released at 1975, 1977 & 1979. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
    15.jpg 16.jpg
     
    ZoidMeister likes this.
  13. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    20 seniti 1967, copper-nickel, weight - 11,3 mm, size - 28,5 mm, mintage - 150000 pcs. Single release. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006). Portrait of his mother - queen Salote Tupou III (1918-1965).
    19.jpg 20.jpg
     
    spirityoda likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page