Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Toea 1975-2004, KM# 2, Papua New Guinea, Elizabeth II
  • 2 Toea 1975-2004, KM# 2, Papua New Guinea, Elizabeth II
Description

Papua New Guinea is an Oceanian country that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. Its capital, located along its southeastern coast, is Port Moresby. The western half of New Guinea forms the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

At the national level, after being ruled by three external powers since 1884, Papua New Guinea established its sovereignty in 1975. This followed nearly 60 years of Australian administration, which started during World War I. It became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1975 with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in its own right.

The kina is the currency of Papua New Guinea. It is divided into 100 toea.

Obverse

Depicts the national emblem of Papua New Guinea, the state name above, date and mintmark (if any) below.

The national emblem of Papua New Guinea consists of a bird-of-paradise over a traditional spear and a kundu drum. Designed by Hal Holman, an Australian artist working for the Papuan government, Holman was also involved in the design of the National flag. Both the emblem and the flag was accepted by the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea and signed into law as the National Identity Ordinance by the Administrator Sir Leslie Johnson on 24 June 1971.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
FM
1976

Reverse

Depicts a red lionfish, value above.

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae (also known as scorpionfish), natively found in the Indo-Pacific region. Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red/maroon/brown stripes. Adults in this species can grow as large as 47 cm (18.5 in) in length, making it one of the largest species of lionfish in the ocean, while juveniles are typically shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). The average red lionfish lives around 10 years. As with many species within the family Scopaenidae, it has large, venomous spines that protrude from the body, similar to a mane, giving it the common name lionfish. The venomous spines make the fish inedible or deter most potential predators.

Engraver: William Shoyer

2t

Edge
Characteristics
Material Copper Plated Zinc
Weight 4.15 g
Diameter 21.72 mm
Thickness 1.78 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mints
Franklin Mint (FM)
Royal Mint

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