Catalog
20 Seniti - Taufa'ahau Tupou IV Coronation - countermarked
| Issuer | Tonga |
|---|---|
| Year | 1967 |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM#14, Schön#11.2 |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The Royal Arms of Tonga displayed at centre, featuring a quartered shield with a star of David, three stars, a dove, and crossed weapons, surmounted by a royal crown within a laurel wreath, and flanked by two supporters in the form of Tongan warriors holding national flags. A scroll below the shield bears the motto KO E `OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFIA. The denomination 20 SENITI appears in the upper field and the country name TONGA is inscribed below, all within a beaded border. |
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| Reverse lettering | 20 SENITI TONGA KO E `OTUA MO TONGA KO HOKU TOFIA |
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| Additional information |
When Taufa'ahau Tupou IV was crowned in July 1967, Tonga lacked the infrastructure and lead time to strike an entirely new commemorative coinage. The practical solution was to counterstamp existing circulation pieces — a technique with centuries of precedent but rarely used by Pacific island nations in the modern era. The counterstamp itself was applied to coins already in circulation, meaning examples vary considerably in the underlying wear they carry into the commemorative issue.