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50 Dollars - Elizabeth II Whooping crane
| Issuer | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 1990 |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II after the portrait by Raphael David Maklouf, depicting the Queen wearing the George IV State Diadem with earring and pearl necklace visible. The legend 'ELIZABETH II' arcs along the left field and 'COOK ISLANDS' along the right field, with the date '1990' positioned in the lower exergue. The engraver's initials 'RDM' appear below the truncation of the bust, with the Pobjoy Mint mark 'PM' immediately below. The portrait is rendered in high relief against a mirror-finish proof field. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
The whooping crane had fewer than 22 individuals remaining in the wild by 1941, making it the most critically endangered large bird in North America at the time. A joint U.S.-Canadian captive breeding program launched in the 1970s slowly reversed the collapse. Cook Islands issued several wildlife-themed silver pieces around 1990 targeting the conservation collector market, a commercially driven niche that flourished in that decade with mixed numismatic staying power.