200 Rupees - Elizabeth II Independence

Struck to mark the island's independence from Britain in 1968, this issue was actually produced three years after the fact — Mauritius had no domestic minting capability, and commemorative gold required both design approval and a foreign mint contract that took time to arrange. The 1971 date reflects production, not the event. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who had negotiated independence as Prime Minister, was still in office when these were struck, lending the issue at least some political continuity with the moment it commemorates.

Mintage was low and the pieces were never intended for circulation — the denomination was nominal against gold's actual value even then.