Catalog
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| Issuer | British Indian Ocean Territory |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 50 Pence |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing effigy of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, drop earrings, and a pearl necklace, as rendered in the fourth definitive portrait attributed to the Pobjoy Mint. The legend arcs around the upper periphery reading ELIZABETH II • 2021 • BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY, with the date flanking either side of the effigy at the upper left. The field is smooth and unadorned, allowing the finely detailed portrait to dominate the heptagonal flan. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse lettering | FATHER CHRISTMAS™ DA FIFTY PENCE |
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| Additional information |
The British Indian Ocean Territory has no permanent civilian population and issues no currency for everyday use — its coins exist entirely for the collector market, produced under licensing arrangements that generate revenue for the territory's administration. BIOT coinage is legal tender in name only, in a jurisdiction whose primary inhabitants are military personnel at Diego Garcia.
Father Christmas appears here under a licensing arrangement typical of novelty issues produced by Pobjoy Mint, which has held the BIOT minting contract for decades.