Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Centavo 2003-2012, KM# 1, East Timor (Timor-Leste)
  • 1 Centavo 2003-2012, KM# 1, East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Description

East Timor or Timor-Leste is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. Australia is the country's southern neighbour, separated by the Timor Sea.

East Timor centavo coins were introduced in East Timor in 2003 for use alongside United States dollar banknotes and coins, which were introduced in 2000 to replace the Indonesian rupiah following the commencement of U.N. administration. Unlike coins issued for the Panamanian balboa or the Ecuadorian centavo, the East Timorese coins are not identical in size to their U.S. cent counterparts.

Engraver: José Bandeira

Obverse

Depicts nautilus, country name above and date below.

The nautilus (from the Latin form of the original Ancient Greek: ναυτίλος, 'sailor') is a pelagic marine mollusc. Nautilus, both extant and extinct, are characterized by involute or more or less convolute shells that are generally smooth, with compressed or depressed whorl sections, straight to sinuous sutures, and a tubular, generally central siphuncle. Having survived relatively unchanged for hundreds of millions of years, nautiluses represent the only living members of the subclass nautiloidea, and are often considered "living fossils".

REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE
B D
C 2003

Reverse

Value, Kaibauk below, tais pattern along border.

The Kaibauk is a type of headdress worn by the Timorese liurai. Traditionally made of silver, it is shaped like the horns of a water buffalo.

Tais cloth is a form of traditional weaving created by the women of East Timor. An essential part of the nation's cultural heritage, tais weavings are used for ceremonial adornment, sign of respect and appreciation towards guests, friends, relatives, home decor, and personal apparel.

1
centavo

Edge
Characteristics
Material Nickel Clad Steel
Weight 3.1 g
Diameter 17 mm
Thickness 2.15 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Portuguese Mint and Official Printing Office (INCM)

Related coins

Nickel Brass, 6.5 g, ⌀ 25 mm