Cook Islands 20-CENTS (KM5)¶
-
Reverse FAIRY TERN
-
Obverse Queen Elizabeth II
- Composition
- Copper-Nickel
- Country
- Cook Islands
- Approx. Size
- 28.5mm
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
- Animal Class
- Birds
- Species
- Fairy Tern
- KM#
- 5
THE FAIRY TERN is a celestial vision: Its silky plumage pure white, its slender wings translucent, its large, black-rimmed eyes the deepest midnight blue. When one hovers above you, all innocent curiosity, you can easily understand why on some tropical islands it is called the Holy Ghost bird. [Read more HERE]
Cook Islands¶
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
The Cook Islands are 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean with their own government since 1965, but still under the care of New Zealand (who sends them a yearly allowance, among other things). Capt. James Cook sailed there three times between 1773 and 1777 and he named them after his friend, Admiral Augustus John Hervey. At some unspecified later date, they were renamed the Cook Islands. Most of the islands are low-lying coral atolls, and some volcanic islands. The people export papaya and other fruits, as well as mother of pearl. The biggest part of the economy is tourism.
