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Vanuatu 1988 100 Vatu — The Coin That Killed the Banknote

The coin that killed the banknote: Vanuatu’s 1988 100 vatu — nickel-brass, British-£1-sized, with a coconut on the reverse.

History

  • In 1988 a nickel-brass 100 vatu coin was introduced to replace the 100 vatu note.
  • It was struck to the same size and general thickness as the British £1 coin.
  • Reverse: a coconut; obverse: the coat of arms (warrior and whorled boar’s tusk).

Key dates & varieties

  • 1988 first year of the 100 vatu coin.

Specifications

  • Nickel-brass; British-£1 module.

Collector notes

  • Locals call 100 vatu “one dollar” — this is the everyday big coin of Vanuatu.
  • High-grade examples are the hunt; most circulated alongside the note it replaced.

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