Falkland Islands Coin Marks Referendum on Status

The Treasury of the Falklands Islands Government has issued a new coin whose main focus is that of the recent referendum which asked the population of the Falklands whether the status the Island territory within the United Kingdom should remain.

The Falkland Islands, a group of islands situated in the south Atlantic, is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom which has its own constitution, its own government and its own local laws. In view of recent calls by the Government of Argentina for negotiations over the Islands’ sovereignty, last year the Falkland Islands Government announced its intention to hold a Referendum in order to enable Falkland Islanders to express their views on the political status of the Falkland Islands in an effort to eliminate any possible doubt about their wishes.

The Referendum was held over a two day period on 10^th March and 11^th March 2013 and the question posed by the Referendum was simply “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?” The ballot called for a Yes or No vote. In a free and fair Referendum such as this, everyone was free to vote according to their own beliefs – which is their democratic right. An overwhelmingly majority voted in favor of retaining the association with the United Kingdom. The results of the Referendum being 92% of voters who turned out over the two days to take part and 99.8% of those voters were in favor of retaining the current political status.

The coin, struck at the Pobjoy Mint, UK is available in both silver and cupro-nickel. The reverse design shows the famous World Directions Signpost near Stanley on the Falkland Islands that was erected by servicemen during the Falklands War which was fought in 1982. The obverse of the coins portrays a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Denomination	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Mintage
1 Crown	.925 silver	28 gr.	38.6 mm.	Proof	10,000 pieces
1 Crown	Cupro-nickel	28 gr.	38.6 mm.	BU	unlimited

For more information on this and other coins offered by the Government of the Falkland Islands, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint at: www.pobjoy.com – International orders fulfilled.