2002 is the last date ever to appear on a 1 vatu coin: the triton-shell type issued since 1983 ended with it, and Vanuatu has struck no new 1 vatu pieces since.

The reverse belongs to Charonia tritonis, one of the largest shells of the Indo-Pacific reefs; the hole in it shows that it was used as a trumpet. The obverse bears the national emblem: a Melanesian warrior with a spear, a boar’s tusk, namele leaves and the motto «LONG GOD YUMI STANAP» on a scroll.

Like the earlier dates, the coin was struck by the Royal Mint in Britain. In 2011 the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu formally stopped issuing 1 and 2 vatu coins, and the 2015 series has no such denominations at all, so the 1 vatu of 2002 closes the story of this value.

Grade UNC: the coin has never circulated, shows no wear and keeps its mint lustre, with only minor storage marks possible. For a 1 vatu date set it is the final piece of the run.

For those who collect coins by subject, whether wildlife, architecture, famous people or sport, the VPcoins catalogue offers other themed issues too.