MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands celebrates March referendum success with a new coin issue

The reverse design shows the famous World Directions Signpost near Stanley, and the observe the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II

The Treasury of the Falklands Islands Government has issued a new coin whose main focus is that of the March referendum when the population was asked about the status of the Islands and overwhelmingly voted to remain as a British Overseas Territory.
The turnout was 92% and 99% of ballots confirmed British Territory status.

The referendum organized by the Falklands government was in reply to the repeated demands from Argentina to hold sovereignty talks with the UK but ignoring the local population that has been living in the Falklands for up to nine generations.

Argentina argues the local population has been ‘implanted’, thus has no right to self-determination and solemnly ignores her, and describes the Falklands as an ‘anachronic colonial”, remnant from British empire times.

Argentina in all possible forums repeats that UN resolutions have repeatedly called for negotiations between the UK and Argentina on the Islands sovereignty but Britain insists Islanders must be present which Argentina rejects point-blank.

Meantime it has tried to isolate the Falklands and hinder the Islands economy by limiting communications with the continent, demanding solidarity from other South American countries in banning Falklands flagged vessels from their ports and threatening oil industry companies and support businesses with international litigations.

In view of this aggressive attitude the Falkland Islands Government announced last year its intention to hold a referendum in order to enable Falkland Islanders to express their views on the political status of the Falkland Islands in an effort to eliminate any possible doubt about their wishes.

The referendum was held over a two day period on March 10/11 and the question posed by the referendum was simply “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?” The ballot called for a Yes or No vote.

An overwhelmingly majority voted in favor of retaining the association with the United Kingdom.

The coin, struck at the Pobjoy Mint, UK is available in both silver and cupro-nickel. The reverse design shows the famous World Directions Signpost near Stanley on the Falkland Islands that was erected by servicemen during the Falklands War which was fought in 1982. The obverse of the coins portrays a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The silver crown is .925 silver, 28 grams, 38.6 mm. diameter with a mintage of 10.000 pieces. The cupro-nickel option weighs 28 grams and 38.6 mm and unlimited mintage.

For more information on this and other coins offered by the Government of the Falkland Islands, please visit the website of Pobjoy Mint at: www.pobjoy.com. International orders fulfilled.