On 27 January 2012, the Governor of Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), Denton Rarawa announced that the Solomon Islands' current coins will be replaced by five attractive new coins in July this year.
The designs reflect what the people told CBSI they would like to see on their coins in the national coinage survey conducted in 2011. The old 1, 2 and 5 cent coins will no longer be produced.
The obverse of all coins features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. This effigy replaces the Raphael Maklouf design used in the old coins.
Each reverse of the new coins features one of four much loved designs that already appear on some of the current coins and there is a new design for the 2 dollar coin. The 2 dollar coin will feature the bokolo, an item of cultural significance for Solomon Islanders.
The reverse designs are:
10 CENTS - SEA SPIRIT
The new 10 cent coin retains the sea spirit design that is on the current 10 cent coin. The design portrays the sea spirit Ngoreru from Temotu province in the Eastern Solomon's.
20 CENT - PENDANT
The new 20 cent coin retains the pendant design on the current 20 cent coin. The design depicts a traditional pendant design of Malaita province.
50 CENT - EAGLE
The new 50 cent coin features the eagle design on the current 2 cent coin. The eagle spirit symbolises deity in various communities in Solomon Islands.
$1 DOLLAR - NGUZU NGUZU
The new $1 dollar coin retains the nguzu nguzu design of the current 1 dollar coin. The design portrays a carving of the spirit Nguzu Nguzu from the Western province. It portrays good luck and protection.
$2 DOLLAR - BOKOLO
The design features a bokolo from Western and Choiseul provinces. The bokolo is made from fossilised clam shells and was traditionally used as a form of money. It is featured in the $2 coin and represents the many different forms of traditional money used in Solomon Islands.
(news by Pabitra Saha)
LINK: Solomon Star
LINK: Sky News
LINK: Island Sun
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