Ah, Cook Islands coins. Unconventional denominations (7.5 dollars?). Unusual shapes (the map of China??). An endless variety of subjects (Garfield the cartoon cat?!). Concepts like these, and the sheer quantity of different design ideas, set Cook Islands coins apart from all others. What’s more, although some of the Cook Islands’ Polynesian neighbors have their own ambitious commemorative silver and gold proof coin programs, they are nothing like those of the Cook Islands.
So where to start collecting Cook Islands coins? Well, as stated there are hundreds of coins to choose from and just as many designs. It is even possible to contract with the Cook Islands government to produce your own commemorative coin. Though not legal tender, such coins are official Cook Islands coins. This unusual situation has led to the vast numbers of coins issued in recent decades.
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The Endless Weird Variety of Cook Islands Coins
Most special Cook Islands proof coins are made of silver. Here is a taste of some of the subjects you can collect: there have been coins honoring America’s National Parks, Mickey Mouse, Playboy magazine, signs of the zodiac, Garfield the cat, and many more.
Also famous is the experimental bent of many Cook Islands coins. Non-round shapes are a mainstay. Aside from oddities like rectangular or 7-sided coins, there have been coins shaped like the map of China, triangles (actually, the country’s own circulating $2 coin), and several others.
The Cook Islands issued a kind of odd curved coin that is actually one-third of a much larger coin. Fiji and Samoa issued the other two third pieces. To get the entire coin you need all three pieces from all three island countries, although any piece by itself is equally nice in isolation. The Cook Islands has also issued several 3D coins, with gilt “pop-up” pieces depicting castles, mountains, and statues on otherwise round coins.
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Unusual Denominations of Cook Islands Coins
Atypical denomination amounts have also featured on Cook Islands coins. While the Cook Islands uses dollars and cents, following its parent country New Zealand, there have been several unexpected face values. One great way to collect Cook Islands coins is to get one of each possible face value:
Cent coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50
Dollar coins: 1, 2, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 35, 50, 75, 100, 200, 250, 500
Pence: 1, 2, 3, 4
In regular circulation are coins from 5 cents to 5 dollars (excepting the 2.5-dollar coin). Other cent and dollar coins are either outmoded or are collector’s proofs. The pence coins were a set of four issued in 2002 for Maundy. With a mintage of only 5,000, they were never legal tender but are very collectible.
Where to Find the Best Cook Islands Coins For Sale
The weird world of Cook Islands coins is so varied, and so plentiful in the market place, that collectors and buyers can pretty much kick back, monitor sales listings, and choose what they want. Whatever types of coins beckon you, the Cook Islands has probably issued it. If you appreciate modern experimentalism and a playful sense of humor in your numismatic collection, you’ll definitely find something to add to your collection from the Cook Islands!
