Fiji: Tree frog featured on new titanium crown coin

The Reserve Bank of Fiji have released (19th February) new coins which feature one of the country’s more common symbols of their diverse wildlife and bio-spherical habitation — the Fijian yellow tree frog. The coin is struck in titanium with colour, and is the second coin featuring Fijian wildlife and native plants.

The Islands of Fiji have such a beautiful and diverse selection of flora and fauna, but for many, the Fijian yellow tree frog (Platymantis vitiensis) is the most endearing to Fiji and her people. This little frog reaches a maximum size of 60 millimetres (2.4 inches) and can be found in an array of different colours, from a creamy grey to a vivid yellow. In the wild, these frogs live close to rivers and streams and prefer living amongst secluded foliage. They are good swimmers, climbers, and can jump quite a distance to evade predators. These frogs are nocturnal animals and both forage for food and look for a partner to reproduce with at night. They lay their eggs in leaf axils, particularly of Pandanus trees. Fiji’s endemic frogs are terrestrial breeders and miniature frogs hatch from the eggs instead of entering the world as tadpoles. Although these frogs are not currently considered endangered, they are confined to small pockets of forest on small islands so they are inherently at risk from deforestation and other introduced predators.

The coin is produced by the Pobjoy Mint on behalf of the Reserve Bank of Fiji. The reverse design, with the inclusion of the yellow tree frog, captures the essence of the rainforest with its vivid colours and unusual appearance. The reverse features a yellow tree frog resting on some leaves with the denomination of ONE DOLLAR (yellow-tinted titanium) or TWO DOLLARS (sterling silver) placed just below the primary design.

The obverse side includes the coat of arms of the Republic of Fiji, a heraldic design consisting of a shield with the cross of St. George, Fijian warriors, a canoe, and a lion.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
$1	Titanium	10 g	36.1 mm	Uncirculated	7,500
$2	.925 Silver	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Proof	2,000

Both the Proof sterling silver coin and the Uncirculated titanium coins are shipped encapsulated in an acrylic capsule for protection and are housed in a stunning red box along with a certificate of authenticity. As titanium reacts differently with every strike, each Yellow Tree Frog coin is technically different from each other and varies slightly in colour. There is also a lined effect that is present on the coins which is unique to this metal. For additional information on this coin and others issued from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint.

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