Catalog
1 Vatu
| Issuer | Reserve Bank of Vanuatu |
|---|---|
| Year | 1983-2002 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 1.2 mm |
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| Obverse description | The national arms of the Republic of Vanuatu occupy the central field, depicting a Melanesian warrior in traditional dress standing before a circular boar's tusk device. The country name legend RIPABLIK BLONG VANUATU arcs along the upper periphery in raised Latin characters, while the motto LONG GOD YUMI STANAP (In God We Stand) appears on a ribbon scroll at the base of the arms. The date of issue is positioned above the arms within the field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Vanuatu gained independence from its Franco-British Condominium administration in 1980, making the 1983 introduction of the vatu coinage one of the earliest concrete expressions of that sovereignty — replacing a currency system that had required two colonial powers to agree on virtually every monetary decision. The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu was itself established only in 1980, leaving a three-year gap before small-denomination coinage reached circulation.
The nickel brass composition was a deliberate economy measure common among Pacific island nations of the period, chosen for corrosion resistance in humid coastal environments.