Brief Vanuatu History
Vanuatu is the new name for the New Hebrides, a group of small islands east of Australia, discovered by Portuguese navigator Pedro de Quiros in 1606, and named New Hebrides in 1774 by Captain James Cook. The islands were much visited for their sandalwood, and rather unusually, the British and French each relinquished their claims to firstly declare the zone as neutral, and later as a joint Anglo-French dominion (condominium). Vanuatu became independent in 1980 and remains a member of the British Commonwealth.
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceeding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Vanuatu Gold Coins
Vanuatu's first gold coins in its own name were issued in 1981, although no circulation cooins were made until two years later in 1983.

Technical Specifications

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Fineness	Gold Content
50 Vatu	13	1.2441	0.9990	0.0400
100 Vatu	25	7.7776	.5833	0.1458

Prices & Availability
Please contact us prior to ordering for current prices and availability.
The prices quoted in the US $ column may be out of date due to currency fluctuations.

Date	Denomination	Description	Grade	Mintage	Issue £	Availability	Price £	Price $
1996	50 Vatu	1996 Olympics	Proof		£	Sold	£35	$50
1997	100 Vatu	Lady of the Century	Proof		£	Sold	£165	$265

Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10 per order
USA Insured Shipping $20 per order

Vanuatu Silver and Base Metal Coins
For silver and base metal coins of Vanuatu, please look at our original Chard Coins website.