1 Royal - Elizabeth II Sea turtle; Gold bullion
2020 year| Gold (.9999) (24 carat) | 31.1 g | 32.7 mm |
| Issuer | British Indian Ocean Territory (British Overseas Territories) |
|---|---|
| Queen | Elizabeth II (1952-2022) |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Year | 2020 |
| Value | 1 Royal |
| Currency | Royal (2019-date) |
| Composition | Gold (.9999) (24 carat) |
| Weight | 31.1 g |
| Diameter | 32.7 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#328079 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Image of a sea turtle with value below.
Script: Latin
Lettering: 1 ROYAL
Edge
Reeded
Comment
APMEX exclusive.The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia, and directly south of the Maldives. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands – many of which are very small.
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) plays a crucial role as a foraging ground for immature sea turtles that feed in the shallow lagoons. Ongoing conservation work has shown that the sea turtles remain in these environments for many years before they travel back to their natal nesting areas to breed as adults.
Unfortunately, the sea turtle population was exploited for many years as a source of food and jewellery trade from the local islanders and passing merchant ships. Until relatively recently, the British Government created the world’s largest no-take marine protected area (MPA) in 2010 within the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) which includes the some of the world’s most pristine tropical coral reefs along with the 58 islands of the archipelago that are native to multiple endangered species such as the hawksbill and green sea turtle. Fast forward to today and with the help of the British Government it is estimated that around 1,000 adults of both species – the hawksbill and green sea turtle nest annually. This has greatly helped with the recent increase of population for both the hawksbill and green sea turtle.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features a unique design of a sea turtle, which is not commonly seen on coins. The design is meant to represent the rich marine life of the British Indian Ocean Territory and to promote awareness about the importance of conservation efforts. The coin's gold content and limited mintage also make it a valuable collector's item for numismatists and investors.
