Fiji 1978 20 dollars
This specimen was part of lot 33697 in Heritage sale 3082 (New York, January 2020), which sold for $1,980. The catalog description[1] noted, "Fiji: British Colony. Elizabeth II 3-Piece Lot of Assorted Issues 1978 Proof, 1) silver 10 Dollars 1978 - Proof; 2) silver 20 Dollars 1978 - Proof; 3) gold "Banded Iguana" 250 Dollars 1978 - PR69 Ultra Cameo NGC. Sold as is, no returns." This issue is one of a series featuring Fijian wildlife. The golden cowrie, Lyncina aurantium, a marine snail, is found in the south Pacific. Always rare, the shell was worn by Fijian chiefs as a badge of rank. The uncirculated issue was struck in billon (KM 42) and the proofs struck in sterling silver (KM 42a).
Recorded mintage: 3,584 plus 3,869 proofs.
Specification: 35.00 g, 0.500 fine silver, 42 mm diameter. Proofs were struck in 0.925 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-42a.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Online Auction 3082, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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