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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
From my "Coins with Insects" collection. KM#46, 1977 Tonga, 20 Seniti, mintage 25,000 . Bees. A very interesting design I think. and 1 from my "Coins with Hands" collection. KM#77, 1982 Tonga, 1 Pa'anga, a low mintage-5,000 Sorry I can't find the reverse pic.
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.
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
I have a few Tonga - Paanga, 1967 Tonga - Paanga, 1970 Tonga 50 Seniti 1985 Also have a rectangular F.A.O. issue, just can't find the image now.
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.