Fiji collectors take note

[JeffH]

On 12th December the new Fijian coins and banknotes were officially announced. No more Queen's head, $2 coin replaces note and $100 note introduced.
New Fiji currency
I am disappointed that there does not seem to be any denomination now with a turtle.

I will be in Fiji for most of next month and likely to be in Suva several times. Looking to do two things in particular, apart from grocery shopping;
•Get to the gates of the Governor's residence early this time for a good position for the weekly changing of the guard
•Visit the reserve Bank sales section and get some of the new currency. Reserve Bank numismatic sales

All other "must do" activities -catch up with friends, eat too much, drink too much, fireworks on the beach, swim and snorkel etc. etc.- do not require visiting Suva. In fact, best done well away from Suva.

I will also be trying to grab a reasonable amount of circulation samples, as they are now issued (available at banks from 2 January; old coins and notes valid until the end of the year).

Any forum members interested in obtaining either circulation samples or reserve Bank packs can message me before the end of the month and I will see if I can help.

Jeff

Sorry, My mistake -$100 notes were introduced previously.

[Triggersmob]

I will be in Fiji for a couple of days in Feb too.
Having a couple of stop overs on our cruise.
Don't think I will have much time for seeking coins,
but I will give it my best shot.

[enworb]

My world collection centres around british monarchs so having removed the queen from the coinage the fijian coins dont interest me too much. Hope you have a good time there Jeff!

[trout]

I don't collect these coins myself but I have a good mate that would realy like some.
I'll send you a PM with an offer :good:

[Mister T]

My world collection centres around british monarchs so having removed the queen from the coinage the fijian coins dont interest me too much.

One less country to worry about!

[Triggersmob]

As my trip to Fiji was taken up with tours, I didn't get much time to look for coins. However I did come across a bank, out in the country and the teller there was very helpful. Unfortunately she didn't have many of the new coins in the till, but did manage to scrape together a set for me.

[attachment=1322][attachment=1323][attachment=1324][attachment=1325][attachment=1326][attachment=1327]

[JeffH]

Well, back from Fuji with quite a few coins and some notes.

Firstly, I put up some posters at the nearest shopping precinct and the staff room at the resort.
Then, I set up a noodling station and waited for the coins to come...[attachment=1377] Note; clean towel to sit coins on, two pairs of reading glasses [wear both for extra magnification], clean handkerchief (to remove grime, wipe sweat etc.) and special rehydrating lotion {aka "Fiji Baby"}.
The noodling station was approximately 5m to the right of this picture, beach about 50m ahead, spas immediately behind and bar just behind them...[attachment=1380]
Meanwhile, I checked change for any of the newest flora and fauna types.
And here is what I brought home...[attachment=1378]
Along the way I visited the Reserve Bank in Suva and purchased some coins and notes there...[attachment=1379]

Also lounged at pool, ate lots, drank more than a little sparingly, went to beach, read some books and avoided to much strenuous, physical activity.

Jeff

[Robster]

Not sure how you could be any more organised. Holiday with a mission.!:yahoo:

[Goldseeker]

The upper top photo shows a lot of verdagree coins.   Did you take a metal detector and detect on the beach?

[JeffH]

The upper top photo shows a lot of verdagree coins.   Did you take a metal detector and detect on the beach?

No; these are as brought to me to look at. In a brown paper bag with plenty of dust, seeds, husks and assorted organic matter. Don't know where they had been stored but not a good place.
At the top of the picture you can see I have started sorting out a few better looking ones. The pile at the bottom is rejects. Needless to say I didn't take many from this offering.

Jeff

[Triggersmob]

If you had to go to all that effort to get coins, it's not surprising I couldn't find many on my 1/2 day tours.
Nice haul Jeff. Good to see you managed to get a $5 note, I missed out on that one.

[JeffH]

Good to see you managed to get a $5 note, I missed out on that one.

The $5 is in a folder from the Reserve Bank. It is the only note not yet released into circulation -due end of March. Because it is nearly the same colour as the $2 note they are first trying to get as many $2 notes back as possible.
Still plenty of $2 notes circulating but the new $2 coins are now very common.

Jeff

[BCNumismatics]

Good to see you managed to get a $5 note, I missed out on that one.

The $5 is in a folder from the Reserve Bank. It is the only note not yet released into circulation -due end of March. Because it is nearly the same colour as the $2 note they are first trying to get as many $2 notes back as possible.
Still plenty of $2 notes circulating but the new $2 coins are now very common.

Jeff

Jeff,
  The new 5 Dollars can also be bought not in a folder.

The 'ZZ' prefix one is more common than the normal one.

I have got both the normal & the Replacement for the new 5 Dollars.

Aidan.

[JeffH]

If the Reserve Bank is operating to schedule $5 notes should have started rolling out to the banks this week.

They also allow requests for serial numbers but at rather a premium price. Uncut sheet are now also very much more expensive than they were a year ago.

I was amused to see their security at the barred door from their underground carpark. Five security men (all front row forward material). Not a firearm to be seen but every one had a cane knife (Fiji cane knife and a stout stick. One other guard lurking inside, presumably he has control of the lock.

Also interesting to see a security company refill of an ATM in a shopfront. First a ute pulls up and four burly security guards pile out of the back and surround the teller machine. Quick all clear on the two way radio and another ute comes; two guards exit back of ute and carry box of money to reload machine and two guards remain in back (I think they are sitting on more boxes of money). Drivers and a spare guard each remain remain seated in the cabs. The utes look to be stock standard Hi-Luxes -no special security measures that I could see.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Steveqld]

I was in Ireland a few years ago at Sligo just south of Northern Ireland.  One night I saw a few jeeps carrying fully armed soldiers doing patrols of the (reasonable) neighbourhood.  Next day I was near a bank when an armoured van pulled up for a delivery.  Jeep at the front and rear.  Soldiers with submachine guns deployed to the front and rear and also to the front and rear on the other side of the road.  A third jeep pulled up about 40 meters to the rear also full of armed soldiers.  Only when everyone was in place and the area cleared did they open the doors of the van.  All over in 10 minutes and on to the next bank.