British Indian Ocean Territory: Red-footed booby features on new red titanium crown coin

The government and treasury of the British Indian Ocean Territory have issued (20th February) new crown coins which feature a rather distinctive feathery resident on the island, the red-footed booby. As their name suggests, they do indeed have red feet (that is to say, all adults), but the colour of their plumage varies. Found extensively in tropical areas, this particular bird is the smallest member of the booby family at about 70 centremetres (28 inches) in height. Despite their diminutive stature, they are very powerful and agile fliers, although their take-off and landing skills leave something to be desired. They are amazing divers that plummet into the sea at high speeds in order to catch their prey, which typically consists of small fish and squid. The red-footed booby breeds on islands in most tropical oceans, but when it is not breeding it spends most of its time at sea so is very rarely seen outside of their breeding colonies. These sociable birds thrive in colonies, and during mating season, hundreds of animals may gather to pair up with just one mate. Females will lay only one egg every 15 months and both parents will take turns in the care and feeding for chicks. Red-footed booby chicks mature slowly, but the low reproduction rate is balanced by these birds’ long lifespan, which can be over 20 years.

The coins are produced in both red colour-tinted titanium and cupro-nickel by the Pobjoy Mint at their facilities in Surrey, England, and on behalf of the treasury of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The design on the reverse of the coins features an adult red-footed booby with its chick. The denomination of £2 is shown just below the primary design.

The obverse features an effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, which is an exclusive design of the Pobjoy Mint. The issuing authority of the BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY is included in the legend around the Queen’s portrait along with the year of issue, 2019.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
Two pounds	Titanium	10 g	36.1  mm	Brilliant Unc.	7,500
Two pounds	Cupro-nickel	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Brilliant Unc.	10,000

As titanium reacts differently with every strike, each red-footed booby coin is technically different from one another and varies slightly in colour. There is also a lined effect that is present on the coins, which is unique to this metal. The cupro-nickel coins are shipped in a Pobjoy Mint-branded blue presentation pouch. The Titanium coin is shipped encapsulated in an acrylic capsule for protection and housed in a stunning red box along with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information about these coins and others issued by the government and treasury of the British Indian Ocean Territory, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint.

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