10 Dollars - Elizabeth II Dakuwaqa

Dakuwaqa is the shark god of Fijian mythology, a shape-shifter whose power over the sea made him both feared and propitiated by fishermen across the Lau archipelago. The year 2000 issue falls within one of the most turbulent periods in Fiji's post-independence history — George Speight's civilian coup in May of that year overthrew Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and suspended the constitution, leaving the Reserve Bank operating under considerable institutional uncertainty. That a gold commemorative proceeded to issue at all during this period is itself notable.