50 Cents - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait, Bonito Fish

The Cook Islands' marine-themed decimal series, introduced after the islands gained self-governance in free association with New Zealand in 1965, reflects the centrality of Pacific fisheries to the local economy rather than any conventional numismatic tradition. The bonito — a migratory tuna species critical to subsistence and commercial fishing across Polynesia — was a deliberate choice over the ceremonial or agricultural motifs favored by most Commonwealth dependencies of the period.

The third portrait of Elizabeth II, by Raphael Maklouf, was adopted across Commonwealth coinage beginning in 1985.