The Marshall Islands began issuing dollar-denominated coinage in 1986 following the Compact of Free Association with the United States, which granted the republic self-governance while maintaining the US dollar as its official currency. Without a central bank or domestic monetary infrastructure, these coins were produced primarily for the collector market — circulation was never the point. The humpback whale issue appeared during a period when the RMI was aggressively expanding its commemorative program, releasing dozens of themed pieces annually.
The Marshall Islands began issuing dollar-denominated coinage in 1986 following the Compact of Free Association with the United States, which granted the republic self-governance while maintaining the US dollar as its official currency. Without a central bank or domestic monetary infrastructure, these coins were produced primarily for the collector market — circulation was never the point. The humpback whale issue appeared during a period when the RMI was aggressively expanding its commemorative program, releasing dozens of themed pieces annually.
KM#132 was struck at the Pobjoy Mint in Surrey.