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5 Dollars - Elizabeth II 30th Anniversary Election of John Paul II
| Issuer | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 2008 |
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| Value | 5 Dollars |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Centrally placed, partially gilt papal coat of arms of John Paul II, featuring a quartered heraldic shield overlaid with a gilt cross embellished with five amber-yellow Swarovski crystal baguettes arranged in cruciform. The shield is surmounted by the gilt papal tiara and two crossed keys of Saint Peter, with tasseled cords flanking the lower portion of the arms. The Marian monogram M appears in gilt at the base of the shield. The curved legend 30TH ANNIVERSARY ELECTION OF JOHN PAUL II arcs around the upper periphery of the field, while the dates 1978 and 2008 appear at the lower left and right respectively. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
John Paul II was elected on October 16, 1978 — the first non-Italian pope in 455 years — making the 30th anniversary in 2008 a commercially significant milestone for commemorative coin programs worldwide. Cook Islands issued heavily into this market throughout the 2000s, frequently partnering with the Austrian Mint, which supplied the Swarovski crystal inlay technology used here.
The crystals are heat-set into pre-cut recesses in the planchet before striking, a process that occasionally produces misaligned inlays on poorly handled examples — worth checking before grading submission.