Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Rupees 1976, KM# 28a, Seychelles, Declaration of the Independence
  • 10 Rupees 1976, KM# 28a, Seychelles, Declaration of the Independence
Description

Following the 1974 election, negotiations with the British resulted in an agreement by which Seychelles became a sovereign republic on June 29, 1976. The SDP and SPUP formed a coalition government in June 1975 to lead Seychelles to independence.

Seychelles is an archipelagic island country in the Indian Ocean at the eastern edge of the Somali Sea. The country consists of 115 islands. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa.

Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being encountered by Europeans in the 16th century. It faced competing French and British interests until coming under full British control in the late 18th century. Since proclaiming independence from the United Kingdom in 1976, Seychelles has developed from a largely agricultural society to a market-based diversified economy, characterized by rapidly rising service, public sector, and tourism activities.

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of President James Mancham facing right, country name above.

Sir James Richard Marie Mancham (1939–2017) was a Seychellois politician who founded the Seychelles Democratic Party and was the first President of Seychelles from 1976 to 1977.

Engraver: Michael Rizzello

REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES

Reverse

Depicts a green sea turtle swimming, the denomination above, and an inscription with the date below in front of a spiral ribbon.

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but it is also found in the Indian Ocean. The common name refers to the usually green fat found beneath its carapace, due to its diet strictly being seagrass, not to the color of its carapace, which is olive to black.

Engraver: Suzanne Danielli

10
RUPEES
INDEPENDENCE 1976

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 28.28 g
Diameter 34.5 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Heaton Mint, Birmingham (H)

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