New Caledonia 5-FRANCS (KM16)¶
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Reverse: KAGU
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Obverse: Allegorical figure of France.
- Composition
- Aluminum
- Country
- New Caledonia
- Approx. Size
- 31mm
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
- Animal Class
- Birds
- Species
- Kagu
- KM#
- 16
The Kagu is endemic to New Caledonia, where it lives in the dense mountain forests. It is nearly flightless, and builds a nest of sticks on the ground. On the coin, this chicken-sized bird is seen standing on the forest floor using its wings for display. The Kagu is an endangered species.
You can view some images here.
New Caledonia¶
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
New Caledonia is is an overseas territory of France consisting of one main island and several smaller islands in the southwest Pacific ocean. Sometime between 2014 and 2019 the approximately 250,000 residents will decide in a referendum whether to remain an autonomous overseas collectivity or become an independent state.New Caledonia is part of the mostly-submerged continent of Zeelandia, which is part of the ancient super-continent Gondwana. It broke off from Australia between 60-80 million years ago, and today contains unique flora and fauna descended from prehistoric Gondwanan forests.
New Caledonia is also one of the only countries to have two official flags. The one shown here is the Kanak flag, adopted in July 2010. The other official flag is the tri-colour flag of France.
