In 2008 Tuvalu issued an outstanding silver proof set featuring, of all things, World War II vintage fighter planes. The set is a real tribute to the historical squadrons of all the nations involved. The artist/s created masterpieces of art capturing the true essences of each craft. You are about to view the set as it was offered to collectors in 2008. Because the set doesn't allow you to see the magnificence of each airplane, I have added links to photos of the reverses of individal coins so you can see each aircraft upclose. All the following photos are courtesy of The Coin Page and Australia's Perth Mint. The coins are silver One Dollar coins. They feature Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse of each coin along with the date, denomination and issuer (TUVALU). OBVERSE OF 2008 TUVALU PROOF 1 DOLLAR COMMEMORATIVE Now that you know the coins were minted by the Perth Mint in Perth, Australia and they feature QEII on the obverse, its time for you to see the set: NOTE:The Coin Page's text says the set is of WWI planes, but that is an error. Read the words on the inside of the box lid. TUVALU 2008 5-PIECE 1 DOLLAR PROOF SET WWI FIGHTER PLANES Since I'm a Citizen of the United States of America, let me show you the Tuvalu proof 1 Dollar featuring the American P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft. Designed and built in just 117 days, the Mustang first flew in Royal Airforce (RAF) service as a fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft before conversion to a bomber escort, employed in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. The P-51 Mustang was in service with Allied air forces in Europe and also saw limited service against the Japanese in the War of the Pacific. At the start of the Korean War the Mustang was the United Nations' main fighter, but the role was quickly shouldered by jet fighters, including the F-86 Sabre, after which the Mustang became a specialized ground-attack fighter-bomber. In spite of being superseded by jet fighters the Mustang remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s. Before you see the coin look at this color photograph of a squadron of real P-51 fighter planes in flight so you can compare the craft to the one the artist designed for the coin. Wikipedia photo: COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF A P-51 MUSTANG SQUADRON IN FLIGHT 2008 TUVALU 1 DOLLAR COMMEMORATIVEP - P-51 MUSTANG Hawker Hurricaine The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Arcraft Ltd. for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Although largely overshadowed by the Supreme Spitfire, the aircraft became renowned during the Battle of Britain, accounting for 60% of the RAF's air victories in the battle, and served in all the major theatres of WWII. Here's a color photograph of a Hawker Hurricane courtesy of Wikipedia so you can compare the actual plane to the designer's rendition on the coin: COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF A HAWKER HURRICANE 2008 TUVALU 2008 1 DOLLAR COMMEMORATIVE - HAWKER HURRICAINE Messerschmitt BF 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 108 ( Me 109) was a German World War II fighter caircraft designed by Willy Messerschnitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as an all-metal monoscope construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted- V12 aircraft engine. The Bf 109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftewaffe's fighter force. From the end of 1941 the Bf 109 was supplemented by the Foke-Wulf Fw 190.Originally conceived as an intercepter aircraft, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter bomber, day-night-all-weather fighter, bomber destroyer, ground-attack aircraft (straffing runs), and as reconnaissance aircraft. It was supplied to and operated by several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war. The Bf 109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 planes built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Compare the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in this color photograph to the design struck on the coin: <COLOR PHOTO OF MESSERSCHMITT Bf 109 IN FLIGHT 2008 TUVALU 1 DOLLAR COMMEMORATIVE - MESSERSCHMITT BF 109 Mitsubishi A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter, and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M Zero was usually referred to by the Allies as just Zero, from the Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter designation. The official Allied designation was Zeke. When it was introduced early in WW II, the Zero was the best carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a dogfighter, achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by 1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms. Compare the Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero in this wikipedia color photograph with the one struck on the 2008 Tuvalu silver 1 Dollar commemorative: COLOR PHOTO OF A MITSUBISHI A6M ZERO FIGHTER PLANE 2008 TUVALU 1 DOLLAR COMMEMORATIVE - MITSUBISHI A6M ZERO Yakovlev YAK-3 The Takovlev YAK-3 was a World War II Soviet fighter aircraft. Robust and easy to maintain, it was much liked by pilots and ground crew alike. It was one of the smallest and lightest major combat fighters fielded by any combatant during the war, and its high power-to-weight ratio gave it excellent performance. It proved a formidable dogfighter. Compare the Yakovlev YAK-3 in this Wikipedia color photo to the Yakovlev YAK-3 fighter plane featured on the coin: COLOR PHOTO OF A YAKOVLEV YAK-3 FIGHTER PLANE IN A HANGAR 2008 TUVALU 1 DOLLAR COMMEMORATIVE - YAKOVLEV YAK-3 Hope you enjoyed the flight... Clinker
drool......I want. I have a numbered print of a P-51 in my living room drawn a fellow that used to be a USAF mechanic. Those planes are awesome and I used to see them buzz up the Ohio River in the '50's. Locals said it was most likely Chuck Yeager just going home for a visit after I saw him fly under the bride where the Scioto River emptied into the Ohio. The USAF mechanic mentioned he had to fix a few of the P-51's because if a green pilot firewalled the throttle (aka Full Throttle) on takeoff it would flip the plane. THAT's torque!!!!!!! There seems to be one still flying out of Indianapolis as I get buzzed every year by one. It makes my heart soar as much as when the TAF goes over in their B-17. Love the sound of those War Birds.
Yak And if you have a few extra $million, I think you can still buy a Yak. Ran into a fellow in Minford, Ohio a few years back stopping in to refuel his. Said he had to go to Russia and ferry it back himself. I was waiting for my brother to land his Cessna 140 with full camo paint job (Restored 1947) when my wife grabbed me by the ear and lead me away before I could get the rest of the story. sign......
Hi DoK U Mint: Thanks for reading, but even more for relating your experiences and knowledge on the P-51 and the YAK-3 Clinker
I'd have to pass on the Tuvalu coloured stickers/paint on coins set. I hate coins that look worse than the scratch and sniff stickers my teacher used to put on our work in grade 3. I don't have much respect for such cheap looking issues. If you really like proof coins and enjoy WWII related topics, this set is the best I've found... 2005 50-Cent Sterling Silver Six-Coin Set - 60th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War Liberation of the Netherlands Battle of the Scheldt Raid on Dieppe Conquest of Sicily The Battle of Britain The Battle of the Atlantic
