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5 Dollars - Elizabeth II Royal Tern
| Issuer | British Virgin Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 1981 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Copper-nickel |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) rendered in finely detailed high relief, depicted in dynamic full flight across the central field with wings fully extended and forked tail feathers clearly delineated, the bird facing left with its characteristic pointed bill prominent. The engraver's initials appear below the bird in the lower central field. The denomination legend FIVE DOLLARS arcs along the lower periphery in bold raised lettering, with the plain field providing a stark, elegant contrast to the naturalistic rendering of the seabird. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
The British Virgin Islands began issuing distinctive wildlife-themed coinage following the transition to a formal currency board arrangement in the 1970s, using the series partly to generate collector revenue — a common fiscal strategy among small dependent territories with limited economic levers. The Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus, breeds along the BVI coastline and was a deliberate local choice rather than an imposed colonial motif.