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Madame Pele Goddess of Fire Volcano Island Bank
| Issuer | Volcano Island Bank |
|---|---|
| Year | 1977 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Milled |
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| Obverse description | Left-facing draped bust of Madame Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, depicted in classical style within a raised inner circle. The effigy shows flowing hair and a hooded or veiled head covering rendered in fine relief. The surrounding annular legend reads MADAME PELE GODDESS OF FIRE HAWAII, separated by small dot stops, with the text arranged around the full circumference of the coin. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central sterling silver hallmark stamp occupying the field, encircled by four stylized lehua flowers arranged symmetrically in the quarters, presented as a tribute to Madame Pele. The peripheral legend reads VOLCANO ISLAND BANK above and the date 1977 below, in Latin script. |
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| Additional information |
The Volcano Island Bank was a private fantasy issuer operating out of Hawaii in the 1970s, producing struck silver pieces marketed as novelty collectibles with no legal tender status anywhere. Pele, the Hawaiian deity associated with volcanic creation, had been a recurring subject in Hawaiian commemorative kitsch throughout the decade, riding the wave of statehood nostalgia and tourism-driven demand for "native" imagery.
These pieces circulated entirely within the collector novelty market and were never redeemable for anything.