Abel Tasman reached the Fijian archipelago in 1643, becoming the first European to sight the islands — though he never landed, deterred by the reef-guarded coastline and the reputation of the islanders. The Dutch East India Company logged his charts but showed no commercial interest, and Fiji remained effectively uncontacted by Europeans for another 130 years.
This piece is part of a broader commemorative program issued by the Reserve Bank of Fiji in the lead-up to the 2010 anniversary series, using gold-plated copper-nickel to keep issues accessible to collectors rather than investors.
Abel Tasman reached the Fijian archipelago in 1643, becoming the first European to sight the islands — though he never landed, deterred by the reef-guarded coastline and the reputation of the islanders. The Dutch East India Company logged his charts but showed no commercial interest, and Fiji remained effectively uncontacted by Europeans for another 130 years.
This piece is part of a broader commemorative program issued by the Reserve Bank of Fiji in the lead-up to the 2010 anniversary series, using gold-plated copper-nickel to keep issues accessible to collectors rather than investors.