An outrigger canoe, a coconut crab, a gathering of chiefs, kava with coconut and the Parliament House: these five 2015 coins lead from Vanuatu’s ancient seafaring to the modern state. This is the complete range of the second vatu series, introduced in the year of the 35th anniversary of independence.

Each design carries a message. The canoe on the 5 vatu recalls trade between the islands, the crab on the 10 vatu the protection of an endangered species, the traditional chiefs on the 20 vatu community self-government, kava and coconut on the 50 vatu the main export goods, and Parliament on the 100 vatu modern governance and the rule of law. They are united by an obverse with the national arms and the Bislama motto «LONG GOD YUMI STANAP».

The series was struck by the Royal Australian Mint. Compared with the 1983 pattern, the new coins are smaller and lighter, which cut production costs, and the 100 vatu received a scalloped edge. The 1 and 2 vatu are absent: their issue had already stopped in 2011.

The set offers the whole line of Vanuatu’s new-pattern circulation coins at once, a type struck in later years too, with 2015 as its first date. Uncirculated (UNC) condition: the coins never circulated, show no wear and keep their mint lustre.

Numismatics begins with a single coin and continues in the VPcoins catalogue.