50 Vatu Independence, Silver

Vanuatu gained independence from joint British and French colonial administration on July 30, 1980 — ending one of the more unusual governing arrangements in Pacific history, the Anglo-French Condominium, which locals had long referred to as the "Pandemonium." This coin marks the first full year of the new republic's sovereign coinage program. The KM#1a silver variant was struck alongside a cupro-nickel circulation issue, with the silver version intended for collector markets rather than domestic use.