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2 Pa'anga - Taufa'ahau Tupou IV Humpback Whale
| Issuer | Government of Tonga |
|---|---|
| Year | 1980 |
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| Value | 2 Paʻanga |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Uniformed effigy of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV facing forward, depicted from the shoulders up wearing a peaked military cap adorned with an insignia, an elaborately decorated tunic with epaulettes, and a sash bearing a star-shaped order of merit. The portrait occupies the central field in high relief with fine sculptural detail. The legend 'F•A•O' arcs across the upper field, while 'TONGA 1980' is inscribed along the lower field, referencing the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) series. |
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| Mintage | 1980 - Proof - 2,200 |
| Additional information |
Tonga's 1980 wildlife series was issued partly in response to the International Whaling Commission's growing pressure on Pacific nations to take conservation positions — a politically loaded moment for island economies historically adjacent to whaling grounds. The humpback population migrating through Tongan waters had declined sharply by mid-century, and the coin's release coincided with early international efforts to establish the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary.
KM#63a denotes the .999 fine silver version; a base metal counterpart was struck for the same type.