New Territory Stamp and Coin Issues
STAMPS: This week sees the launch of a new set of BIOT stamps: the literary issue. They celebrate famous British writers and the well known characters they created:
- Roald Dahl and Fantastic Mr Fox (100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth on 13 September 1916)
- Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit (150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s birth – the release date of this issue coincides with her actual birthday of 28 July 1866)
- Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre (200th anniversary of Charlotte Bronte’s birth on 21 April 1816)
- William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet (400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death on 3 May 1616)
You can buy these stamps and their First Day Covers from the BIOT Post Office online: http://www.biotpostoffice.com/index.asp
First Day Covers cost £2.88 and stamps are priced at 54p and 90p and can be bought individually or in sheets of 20.
COINS: A new coin for the Territory has also been launched: the £2 Archipelago and Wildlife coin. The design features an image of native wildlife of British Indian Ocean Territory consisting of a Turtle, a Red-Footed Booby Bird and some Angel Fish. The Outline of Diego Garcia Island is shown in the background. The obverse of the coin features an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The coins are produced exclusively by Pobjoy Mint.
It is available in silver or cupro nickel from Pobjoy Mint:
Silver at £41.63 + VAT – http://www.pobjoy.com/products/view/archipelago-and-wildlife-2016-proof-sterling-silver-coin
Cupro Nickel at £12.46 + VAT – http://www.pobjoy.com/products/view/archipelago-and-wildlife-2016-uncirculated-cupro-nickel-coin
