5 Cents - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait

Tuvalu's first coinage was issued in 1976, the same year the islands separated from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony to become a distinct British dependency — full independence followed in 1978. The decision to adopt a local coinage rather than continue using Australian dollars was partly symbolic, giving the new administration visible proof of self-governance for a population spread across nine atolls with a combined land area under 26 square kilometers.

The Franklin Mint handled production for the early issues of this series.