Butterflies of Vanuatu

Tue, 1 Jul 2008

Brilliantly colored coins hint at the diversity and beauty of this South Pacific island republic.

This month, I’d like to take you to the South Pacific to explore a beautiful set of noncirculating, legal-tender (NCLT) butterfly coins issued in 2006 by authority of the island Republic of Vanuatu. Comprising 80 islands (of which about 65 are inhabited) and a land mass slightly larger than the State of Connecticut, Vanuatu is located 1,090 miles east of Australia.

The republic’s economy is based primarily on agriculture, fishing, tourism and off-shore financial services. In the 18th century, waves of colonizers migrated to the New Hebrides, each with their own distinct culture and language. This accounts for the archipelago’s complex, linguistic diversity, with more than 100 languages spoken. In 1906 the British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed to an Anglo-French condominium, which administered the islands until their independence in 1980, when the name Vanuatu was adopted.

Today, the islands are part of the Australasia ecozone, which includes New Caledonia, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. Vanuatu’s tropical climate and fertile soil support rainforests and grasslands, as well as a wide variety of butterflies.

Six colorized, silver-plated, basemetal coins comprise the republic’s stunning NCLT proof set. Each butterfly coin is valued at 10 vatu (with 1 vatu approximately equal to a U.S. cent). The reverses feature a Swallowtail (Papilio toboroi), Red Lacewing (Cethosia cydippe), Delias (Delias sagessa), Paradise Birdwing (Ornithoptera paradisea), D’Urville’s Birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus urvillianus) and Amathusiid (Taenaris catops), which has two sets of "eyes" on its wings.

The obverse of each coin bears the official emblem of Vanuatu—a spearwielding warrior above the motto LONG GOD YUMI STANAP, which, loosely translated, means "In God We Stand." These issues might be a bit challenging to find, but collectors with the tenacity to net a set of these butterfly coins will be amply rewarded for their efforts!.