10 Dollars 10th Anniversary of Independence

Fiji achieved independence from Britain on 10 October 1970, and this 1980 issue marks the decade that followed — a period defined politically by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's Alliance Party, which had governed continuously since independence. The .500 fine silver specification was a cost-conscious choice common to Commonwealth commemorative issues of the late 1970s, keeping production accessible while maintaining the appearance of a silver coin for the collector market.