5 Dollars - Elizabeth II Royal Wedding, Silver Proof Issue

Tuvalu had been independent for only three years when this piece was struck, having separated from the Gilbert Islands colony in 1978. The Royal Wedding issues of 1981 were produced in quantity across the Commonwealth's smaller members — many of whom contracted the Royal Mint or private minters to fulfill the obligation — and Tuvalu was no exception, issuing both a base metal and this .925 silver variant simultaneously.

The "a" suffix in the KM reference distinguishes it from the cupro-nickel circulation strike, a cataloging convention that often causes the two to be conflated in dealer inventories.