The holed dollar of the Pacific: PNG’s 1975 1 kina — two New Guinea crocodiles on a cupro-nickel coin with a center hole carried over from string-carry days.
History
- The first 1 kina, 1975, shows two New Guinea crocodiles.
- The hole is original: a carryover from the days when coins were worn on strings or carried on sticks, per the Franklin Mint’s issue description.
- Obverse: a stylized Bank of Papua New Guinea emblem — the crocodiles are the reverse; the other 1975 denominations carry the national crest.
Key dates & varieties
- 1975 first issue of the denomination and the series.
Specifications
- Cupro-nickel, holed — the hole is part of the design, not damage.
Collector notes
- The hole must be centered and original — off-center or added holes are damage, and they discount to near zero.
- 1975 is the first year of the kina itself — this coin opened the currency.
Market check
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