Coins and postage stamps of Sealand
| |||||
Unit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol | SX$ | ||||
Nickname | round | ||||
Demographics | |||||
User(s) | ![]() | ||||
Issuance | |||||
Mint | |||||
Website | www |
The Principality of Sealand, a self-proclaimed micronation founded on a former World War II fort in the North Sea, has issued a number of coins and stamps for collectors. These coins and stamps are denominated in "Sealand dollars" (SX$). Sealand coins can be considered souvenirs only or "rounds" since they do not circulate anywhere and are not accepted as currency by any nation.[1]
History
Sealand began commissioning coins in 1972. The first to be minted was a SX$10 coin with a mintage of 2000. More coins were minted in 1975 and 1977, introducing the SX$20 and SX$100 coins. The SX$10 was minted in 925‰ fine silver, the SX$20 was minted in silver, and the SX$100 was minted in 900‰ fine gold.
In 1991 the "Sealand rebel government" (see Forcible takeover) minted antiqued silver SX$100 coins.
In 1994 the "Treasures of the Sea" Sealand dollars were minted, with an orca (killer whale) on the reverse. The SX$0.25, SX$0.5, SX$1, SX$2.5 and SX$5 were also introduced. The SX$0.25 was minted in bronze and 999‰ fine silver; the SX$0.5 was minted in cupronickel and silver; the SX$1 and SX$2.5 in bronze, silver and gold; and the SX$5 was minted in gold.
Sealand printed stamps in 1969 and 1970.
In 2020, a Sealand stamp was sent into space.[2]
Coins
Denomination | Obverse | Reverse | Year | Metal | Mintage | Mint |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX$0.25 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | Bronze | 1111 | |
SX$0.25 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Silver | 500 | |
SX$0.5 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | Cupro-nickel | 1111 | |
SX$0.5 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Silver | 500 | |
SX$1 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Silver | 20000 | |
SX$1 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Gold | 1111 | |
SX$2.5 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | Bronze | 10000 | |
SX$2.5 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Silver | 500 | |
SX$2.5 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Gold | 1111 | |
SX$5 | Sealand Arms |
Orca Whale |
1994 | .999 Gold | 2500 | |
SX$10 | Princess Joan |
Sailing Vessel |
1972 | .925 Silver | 2000 | |
SX$100 | Prince Roy, Princess Joan and the Principality of Sealand | Sealand Arms | 1977 | .900 Gold | 2000 | |
SX$10 | Princess Joan |
Sealand Arms |
1977 | .925 Silver | 2000 | |
SX$10 | Prince Roy | Sealand Arms | 1977 | .925 Silver | 2000 | |
SX$20 | Princess Joan | Sealand Arms | 1975 | Silver | Unknown | |
SX$25 | Prince Roy, 1967–2012, motto "E Mare Libertas" and the Sealand Arms | Principality of Sealand, 25 Dollars, Sealand Arms, 1921 "In Memorium [sic]" 2012 | 2012 | .925 Silver | 300 | Birmingham Mint |
SX$25 | JOAN PRINCESS OF SEALAND 1967 – 2016 E MARE LIBERTAS, Coat of Arms of Sealand | PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND, 25 DOLLARS, REQUIESCAT IN PACE 1929 – 2016 | 2016 | .925 Silver | 300 | Tower Mint |
SX$25 | RAISING THE FLAG, 2nd SEPTEMBER 1967, PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND, 25 DOLLARS, 2017, Coat of Arms of Sealand | E MARE LIBERTAS, JOAN, PRINCESS OF SEALAND 1967-2016, ROY, PRINCE OF SEALAND 1967-2012, MICHAEL, PRINCE OF SEALAND 2012, 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE | 2017 | .925 Silver | 300 |
Error coin
In 1994, fewer than 150 copies of the half dollar were accidentally cut with a scalloped edge instead of the normal reeded one. This is Sealand's only error coin to date.[3] In addition, a mule of a Navy SEALs commemorative medallion was inadvertently struck, by the same private mint that produces Sealand's coins, using the reverse of a Sealandic half dollar. 75 of these were struck before the error was noticed.[4]
Rebel government coin
A rebel government, referring to itself as the "Sealand government in exile", seeking to occupy Sealand, issued a single commemorative coin in 1992.[citation needed]
Denomination | Obverse | Reverse | Year | Metal | Mintage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SX$100 | Sealand Arms | PRIME MINISTER OF SEALAND JOHANNES SEIGER ("Sealand Rebel Government") | 1991 | Silver | 1000 |
Stamps
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Sealandia_znaczek.jpg)
1969: Explorers
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Sealand_Stamps_Envelope.jpg/400px-Sealand_Stamps_Envelope.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Sealand_Stamps_Envelope_2.jpg/400px-Sealand_Stamps_Envelope_2.jpg)
- Vasco da Gama 1497 – 2c (later 10c)
- Christopher Columbus 1492 – 3c (later 10c)
- Sir Walter Raleigh 1584 – 5c (later 5c)
- Sir Francis Drake 1588 – 6c (later 10c)
- Captain James Cook 1770 – 14c (later 10c)
- Ferdinand Magellan 1519 – 20c (later 20c)
- Sir Martin Frobisher 1578 – 50c (later 10c)
1970
- Ship – SX$1
- Ships – SX$1
- Edward Teach – SX$1
- Squid – SX$1
1970: Ships
- Ships
1970: Fish
- Fish
1975: International Woman's Year
- Africa – 10c
- Australia – 20c
- Europe – 30c
- Asia – 50c
- America – 90c
- Joan I – SX$1
1977: Sailing ships
- Ship of Ferdinand Magellan 1519 – 10c
- Ship of Vasco da Gama 1497 – 20c
- Ship of Christopher Columbus 1492 – 30c
- Ship of Captain James Cook 1770 – 40c
- Ship of Sir Walter Raleigh 1584 – 50c
- Ship of Sir Martin Frobisher 1578 – 60c
- Ship of Sir Francis Drake 1588 – 70c
- Sealandic Coat of Arms – 80c
- Roy of Sealand – 90c
- Joan of Sealand – SX$1
2010
- Green stamp SX$3.50
- Red stamp SX$1.50
- Blue stamp "Inland"[5]
2023
- The Fort SX$3.50[6]
- The Independence Day Flag SX$3.50
- The RIB SX$1.50
- Sealand Flag Prints SX$1.50
- Inland Seal "Inland
- Inland Crab "Inland"
- Inland Seashell "Inland"
See also
Notes and references
- ^ Sealand – Its Story and Its Coins
- ^ "Sealand stamps blasted into space". Archived from the original on 13 November 2020.
- ^ The Imperial Collection – Principality of Sealand – Page 3 Archived 2007-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Principality Of Sealand Dollars and Other Coin Offers
- ^ The Principality of Sealand – Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2023 Sealand Stamps Collection".