| 150 rupees | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Country |
|
| Value |
150.00 rupees |
| Years |
1977 |
| Measurements and composition | |
| Mass |
8.48 g (.916 gold coin) |
| Composition | |
| Appearance | |
| Shape |
round |
| Alignment |
coin |
| Obverse |
John Clunies Ross, branches |
| Reverse |
Palm tree on island, year |
| v · d · e | |
The 150 rupee coin is a commemorative token coin from 1977 that was issued by the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean. It was minted to mark the 150th anniversary of the "Kingdom of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands", which was purportedly founded in 1827 by Scottish sea captain John Clunies Ross (1786–1854). The coin is currently listed in Krause's Unusual World Coins.
Two emissions of the coin were produced: one in .75 fine gold and the other in .916 gold. The latter of the two weighs approximately 8.48 grams. Both are circular in shape and use coin alignment. Featured on the obverse of each is a left-facing portrait of John Clunies Ross. Engraved around the upper left and right peripheries are two branches, and around the rim below the portrait is the caption "JOHN CLUNIES ROSS". Depicted on the reverse is a leaning coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) on an island with the ocean in the background, an illustration similar to that found on the obverses of a series of token coins issued on the islands in 1968. To the immediate right of the tree is the purported value "150 RUPEES" written on two lines. The legend "150TH ANNIVERSARY • KEELING • COCOS ISLANDS" is engraved around the rim, starting near the bottom of the image, arching upwards, and ending at the other side of the reverse. "1827-1977" is featured at the very bottom of the coin, separated from the other inscription by a bullet point on either side. A total of about 8000 pieces were produced, with 2000 uncirculated and 2000 proof coins for each emission. However, the entire first emission was stolen at an airport in Hong Kong and only 290 of the original 4000 coins have been recovered, making them much rarer and more sought after by collectors than the coins of the second emission.
References[]
- Numismatic Guaranty Corporation – COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS 150 Rupees X# 10 (1977)
- Numismatic Guaranty Corporation – COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS 150 Rupees X#10a (1977)
- mcsearch.info
- Chiefa Coins – Cocos (Keeling) Islands
| Currency of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands | |
|---|---|
| Banknotes | 1⁄10 R • ¼ R • ½ R • 1 R • 2 R • 5 R |
| Coins | Official tokens: 5¢ • 10¢ • 25¢ • 50¢ • 1 R • 2 R • 5 R • 10 R • 25 R 1977 coins: 5¢ • 10¢ • 25¢ • 50¢ • 1 R • 2 R • 5 R • 10 R • 25 R • 150 R 2003-2004 coins: 5¢ • 10¢ • 20¢ • 50¢ • $1 • $2 • $5 • $100 |
| Coins of Australian states and territories | |
|---|---|
| Cocos (Keeling) | Official tokens: 5¢ • 10¢ • 25¢ • 50¢ • 1 R • 2 R • 5 R • 10 R • 25 R 1977 coins: 5¢ • 10¢ • 25¢ • 50¢ • 1 R • 2 R • 5 R • 10 R • 25 R • 150 R 2003-2004 coins: 5¢ • 10¢ • 20¢ • 50¢ • $1 • $2 • $5 • $100 |
| New South Wales | 15 p • 5/- • 5/- (medallic) |
| Southern Australia | Adelaide: £1 • £5 |
| Victoria | Hodgkin, Taylor, & Tyndall: ¼ oz • ½ oz • 1 oz • 2 oz • 4 oz • 4 p Taylor: 6 p • 1/- Taylor & Wiener: 1/- Unknown: ½ p |