Kingdom of Tonga

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

  1. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    Kingdom of Tonga - is very small country in Polynesia. It has an area 748 sq.km. and population about 104000. It is monarchy (with the king Tupou VI since 2012). Tonga was British protectorate during June 4 1970. This small state has an own currency named paanga. 1 paanga = 100 seniti.
     
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  3. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    1 seniti 1981, bronze, weight - 1,9 g., size - 17,55 mm, thickness - 1,25 mm, mintage - 1544000 pcs. Royal Australian Mint. Such coins were released at 1981, 1990-91, 1994 and 1996. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006). Demonetized at 2015.
    1.jpg 2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
  4. ZoidMeister

    ZoidMeister Hamlet Squire of Tomfoolery . . . . .

    Cool coin . . .
     
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  5. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    2 seniti 1975, bronze, weight - 3,9 g., size - 21 mm, thickness - 1,6 mm, mintage - 400000 pcs. Such coins were released at 1975 and 1979. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006). Demonetized at 2015.
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  6. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    2 seniti 2006, bronze, weight - 4 g., size - 21 mm, thickness - 1,58 mm, mintage uncknown. British Royal Mint. Such coins were released at 1981, 1990-91 and 1994-96. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006). Demonetized at 2015.
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  7. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    5 seniti 1968, copper-nickel, weight - 2,8 g., size - 19,5 mm, thickness - 1,25 mm, mintage - 100000 pcs. Such coins were released at 1968 and 1974. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
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    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
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  8. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    5 seniti 1996, copper-nickel, weight - 2,8 g., size - 19,5 mm, mintage uncknown. Such coins were released at 1981, 1990-91 and 1994-96. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
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  9. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    10 seniti 1968, copper-nickel, weight - 5,65 g., size - 23,5 mm, thickness - 1,73 mm, mintage - 100000 pcs. Such coins were released at 1968 and 1974. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
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  10. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    20 seniti 1996, copper-nickel, weight - 11,3 g., size - 28,5 mm, thickness - 2,6 mm, mintage uncknown. British Royal Mint. Such coins were released at 1981, 1990-91, 1994 and 1996. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
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  11. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

    50 seniti 1996, copper-nickel, weight - 14,56 g., size - 32,5 mm, thickness - 2,5 mm, mintage uncknown. British Royal Mint. Such coins were released at 1981, 1990-91, 1994 and 1996. Ruler: king Taufa'ahau Tupou IV (1965-2006).
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  12. Siberian Man

    Siberian Man Senior Member

  13. Robidoux Pass

    Robidoux Pass Well-Known Member

    Thanks, Siberian Man. Interesting coins.
     
  14. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    From my "Coins with Insects" collection. KM#46, 1977 Tonga, 20 Seniti, mintage 25,000 . Bees. A very interesting design I think.

    $_57wwwwwwwwwwweer43.jpg
    $_57rrrrrrrrrrtggggggfwwerrrrr.jpg

    and 1 from my "Coins with Hands" collection. KM#77, 1982 Tonga, 1 Pa'anga, a low mintage-5,000
    coins5 072.jpg

    Sorry I can't find the reverse pic.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
  15. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    Tonga became famous in numismatics in 1962 when Queen Salote Tupou III had gold coins issued by the British Royal Mint that were packed in pretty cases and merchandised in Europe as the first gold coins from Polynesia.

    Life Magazine wrote about the coins in October 1963 and I remember seeing the article with photographs.

    I do not have any of the coins to show.

    :)
     
  16. juris klavins

    juris klavins Well-Known Member

    Interesting to see the mintage figures compared with the nations' populations.
    US coinage seems to be in line with Tonga:

    1960 - US pop. = 179M
    Cents - 2166M = 12/person
    Nickels - 248M = 1.4/person
    Dimes - 270M = 1.5/person
    Quarters - 92M = .5/person
    Halves - 24M = .13/person

    1990 - US pop. = 249M
    Cents - 14277M = 57/person
    Nickels - 1326M = 5.3/person
    Dimes - 2144M = 8.6/person
    Quarters - 1542M = 6.2/person
    Halves - 43M = .17/person

    I can see why there is a coins in circulation shortage - the more change jars out there, the less coins per person left to use :rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
  17. Muzyck

    Muzyck Rabbits!

    I have a few

    Tonga - Paanga, 1967

    Tonga 1967 Paanga obverse.JPG
    Tonga 1967 Paanga reverse.JPG

    Tonga - Paanga, 1970

    Tonga Paanga 1970 obv.jpg
    Tonga Paanga 1970 rev.jpg

    Tonga 50 Seniti 1985

    Tonga 50 Sentini 1985 obv.jpg
    Tonga 50 Sentini 1985 rev.jpg

    Also have a rectangular F.A.O. issue, just can't find the image now.
     
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  18. serafino

    serafino Well-Known Member

    In 1975 Tonga issued a centennial set of beautiful 99.9% silver coins. I just recently saw a set in the original special package listed for sale on eBay. If I remember right the full set had a 5 pa'anga, a 10 pa'anga and 20 pa'anga and also some special stamps. The big 20 pa'anga coin was around 3 ounces of silver. They looked like proof coins.
     
  19. Cachecoins

    Cachecoins Historia Moneta

    Have an Irish coin with a very similar theme.
     
  20. offa the saxon

    offa the saxon Well-Known Member

    Some very nice coins eugene. Thanks for sharing.
     
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  21. Thomas Tosh

    Thomas Tosh Pigtown Hooker

    upload_2020-10-2_7-55-25.jpeg

    Added this 1967 1 seniti to a group of Turtle Coins I am putting together.
     
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