Fijian pound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fijian pound | |
| User(s) | Fiji |
|---|---|
| Subunit | |
| 1/20 | shilling |
| 1/240 | penny |
| Symbol | £ |
| shilling | s |
| penny | d |
| Coins | ½d, 1d, 3d, 6d, 1 shilling, 1 florin |
| Banknotes | |
| Freq. used | 5/-, 10/-, £1, £5, £10 and £20 |
| Rarely used | 1d, 1 and 2 shillings, |
| Central bank | Reserve Bank of Fiji |
| Website | www.reservebank.gov.fj |
| This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. | |
The pound was the currency of Fiji between 1873 and 1969. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.
Contents |
[edit] History
Until 1917, the British pound circulated, supplemented by locally produced paper money. From 1917, the government issued paper money for Fiji, followed by coins starting in 1934. The pound was replaced by the dollar at a rate of 1 pound = 2 dollars.
[edit] Coins
In 1934, coins were introduced in denominations of ½, 1 and 6 pence, 1 shilling and 1 florin (2 shillings). Although the larger denomination coins were the same size as the corresponding British coins, the ½ and 1 penny coins were cupro-nickel with holes. In 1942 and 1943, coins were produced for Fiji at the San Francisco mint, resulting in brass ½ and 1 penny coins and 90% silver 6 pence, shilling and florin coins. In 1947, nickel-brass, dodecagonal 3 pence coins were introduced. Cupro-nickel replaced silver between 1953 and 1957.
[edit] Banknotes
In 1871, 1 pound notes were issued at Levuka on the island of Ovalau. These were followed in 1873 by notes of the Fiji Banking and Commercial Company in denominations of 5 and 10 shillings and 1 and 5 pounds. The Bank of New Zealand introduced notes in 1876 in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 pounds, followed by 10 shillings notes in 1918. The Bank of New South Wales issued 1 pound notes in 1901.
In 1917, the government introduced 1 pound notes, followed by 5 and 10 shillings in 1920, 10 pounds in 1925, 5 pounds in 1926 and 20 pounds in 1934. Emergency issues were made during World War II for 1 penny, 1 and 2 shillings.
[edit] References
- Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991, 18th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-150-1.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues, Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors), 7th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
- Pick, Albert (1990). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Specialized Issues, Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors), 6th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-149-8.
