Vanuatu’s first coin: the 1981 50 vatu — struck for the first anniversary of independence, for collectors and circulation alike.
History
- The first post-colonial coin of Vanuatu, issued in 1981 to commemorate the first anniversary of independence (30 July 1980).
- Struck for collectors and released into circulation — the bridge between a commemorative and the 1983 circulation series.
- Obverse: the coat of arms — a native warrior before a whorled boar’s tusk.
Key dates & varieties
- 1981 only for this first-coin issue; the 50 vatu denomination continued in the 1983 circulation series.
Specifications
- 50 vatu denomination, 1981 first-coin issue.
Collector notes
- The first-coin premium is the whole story — this is Vanuatu’s 1981.
- Original collector packaging adds value; the issue was partly targeted at collectors.