Cook Island Crown Jewels Coins Contain Real Jewels

Crown Jewels Coins Contain Real Jewels

In recent years, innovations made by world mints have included coins with color and holograms, bimetallic coins and coins in two parts. Now Australia's Perth Mint has come up with a concept that is truly revolutionary. It is like having an old fashioned kaleidoscope in the middle of a coin! And not only is it a kaleidoscope, but the bits of color are actually precious stones - a minimum of 2 carats of rubies, sapphires and diamonds are encapsulated in each gold coin, and at least 1 ½ carats of rubies, sapphires and cubic zirconia float within each silver coin.

Appropriately these 2002 legal tender coins commemorate the British Crown Jewels. They have been authorized by the Government of Cook Islands, a member of the British Commonwealth. The coins have been released to coincide with the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth's Accession to the Throne. The last time a Golden Jubilee was celebrated in Britain was for Queen Victoria in 1887.

In February 1952 the young Princess Elizabeth, aged just 25, was proclaimed Queen on the death of her father, King George VI. On June 2,1953 the new Queen Elizabeth entered Westminster Abbey wearing the stunning George IV Diadem and was crowned using the historic Crown Jewels of Great Britain which included the St. Edward's Crown, the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's Orb, Coronation Ring, Commonwealth Bracelets, the Sovereign's Sceptre with the Cross, the Jeweled Sword, the Sceptre with the Dove, and the Ampulla and Anointing Spoon. All of these are depicted on the new silver and gold Crown Jewels coins.