Coins and postage stamps of Sealand

Sealand Dollar
Series of 1994Early Sealandic stamps
Unit
SymbolSX$‎
Nicknameround
Demographics
User(s) Sealand
Issuance
Mint
 Websitewww.towermint.co.uk

The Principality of Sealand, a self-proclaimed micronation founded on a former World War II fort in the North Sea, has issued a number of coins and stamps for collectors. These coins and stamps are denominated in "Sealand dollars" (SX$). Sealand coins can be considered souvenirs only or "rounds" since they do not circulate anywhere and are not accepted as currency by any nation.[1]

History

Sealand began commissioning coins in 1972. The first to be minted was a SX$10 coin with a mintage of 2000. More coins were minted in 1975 and 1977, introducing the SX$20 and SX$100 coins. The SX$10 was minted in 925‰ fine silver, the SX$20 was minted in silver, and the SX$100 was minted in 900‰ fine gold.

In 1991 the "Sealand rebel government" (see Forcible takeover) minted antiqued silver SX$100 coins.

In 1994 the "Treasures of the Sea" Sealand dollars were minted, with an orca (killer whale) on the reverse. The SX$0.25, SX$0.5, SX$1, SX$2.5 and SX$5 were also introduced. The SX$0.25 was minted in bronze and 999‰ fine silver; the SX$0.5 was minted in cupronickel and silver; the SX$1 and SX$2.5 in bronze, silver and gold; and the SX$5 was minted in gold.

Sealand printed stamps in 1969 and 1970.

In 2020, a Sealand stamp was sent into space.[2]

Coins

Denomination Obverse Reverse Year Metal Mintage Mint
SX$0.25
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 Bronze 1111
SX$0.25
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Silver 500
SX$0.5
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 Cupro-nickel 1111
SX$0.5
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Silver 500
SX$1
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Silver 20000
SX$1
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Gold 1111
SX$2.5
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 Bronze 10000
SX$2.5
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Silver 500
SX$2.5
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Gold 1111
SX$5
Sealand Arms
Orca Whale 		1994 .999 Gold 2500
SX$10
Princess Joan
Sailing Vessel 		1972 .925 Silver 2000
SX$100 Prince Roy, Princess Joan and the Principality of Sealand Sealand Arms 1977 .900 Gold 2000
SX$10
Princess Joan
Sealand Arms 		1977 .925 Silver 2000
SX$10 Prince Roy Sealand Arms 1977 .925 Silver 2000
SX$20 Princess Joan Sealand Arms 1975 Silver Unknown
SX$25 Prince Roy, 1967–2012, motto "E Mare Libertas" and the Sealand Arms Principality of Sealand, 25 Dollars, Sealand Arms, 1921 "In Memorium [sic]" 2012 2012 .925 Silver 300 Birmingham Mint
SX$25 JOAN PRINCESS OF SEALAND 1967 – 2016 E MARE LIBERTAS, Coat of Arms of Sealand PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND, 25 DOLLARS, REQUIESCAT IN PACE 1929 – 2016 2016 .925 Silver 300 Tower Mint
SX$25 RAISING THE FLAG, 2nd SEPTEMBER 1967, PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND, 25 DOLLARS, 2017, Coat of Arms of Sealand E MARE LIBERTAS, JOAN, PRINCESS OF SEALAND 1967-2016, ROY, PRINCE OF SEALAND 1967-2012, MICHAEL, PRINCE OF SEALAND 2012, 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE 2017 .925 Silver 300

Error coin

In 1994, fewer than 150 copies of the half dollar were accidentally cut with a scalloped edge instead of the normal reeded one. This is Sealand's only error coin to date.[3] In addition, a mule of a Navy SEALs commemorative medallion was inadvertently struck, by the same private mint that produces Sealand's coins, using the reverse of a Sealandic half dollar. 75 of these were struck before the error was noticed.[4]

Rebel government coin

A rebel government, referring to itself as the "Sealand government in exile", seeking to occupy Sealand, issued a single commemorative coin in 1992.[citation needed]

Denomination Obverse Reverse Year Metal Mintage
SX$100 Sealand Arms PRIME MINISTER OF SEALAND JOHANNES SEIGER ("Sealand Rebel Government") 1991 Silver 1000

Stamps

A Sealandic 80 cent stamp issued in 1977

1969: Explorers

Envelope with Sealandic stamps from the 1970 sailing ships series
The same envelope with a SX$1 miniature sheet (1970)
Cancelled SX$1.50 2010 stamp

1970

  • Ship – SX$1
  • Ships – SX$1
  • Edward Teach – SX$1
  • Squid – SX$1

1970: Ships

  • Ships

1970: Fish

  • Fish

1975: International Woman's Year

  • Africa – 10c
  • Australia – 20c
  • Europe – 30c
  • Asia – 50c
  • America – 90c
  • Joan I – SX$1

1977: Sailing ships

  • Ship of Ferdinand Magellan 1519 – 10c
  • Ship of Vasco da Gama 1497 – 20c
  • Ship of Christopher Columbus 1492 – 30c
  • Ship of Captain James Cook 1770 – 40c
  • Ship of Sir Walter Raleigh 1584 – 50c
  • Ship of Sir Martin Frobisher 1578 – 60c
  • Ship of Sir Francis Drake 1588 – 70c
  • Sealandic Coat of Arms – 80c
  • Roy of Sealand – 90c
  • Joan of Sealand – SX$1

2010

  • Green stamp SX$3.50
  • Red stamp SX$1.50
  • Blue stamp "Inland"[5]

2023

  • The Fort SX$3.50[6]
  • The Independence Day Flag SX$3.50
  • The RIB SX$1.50
  • Sealand Flag Prints SX$1.50
  • Inland Seal "Inland"
  • Inland Crab "Inland"
  • Inland Seashell "Inland"

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Sealand – Its Story and Its Coins". Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  2. ^ "Sealand stamps blasted into space". Archived from the original on 13 November 2020.
  3. ^ The Imperial Collection – Principality of Sealand – Page 3 Archived 2007-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Principality Of Sealand Dollars and Other Coin Offers
  5. ^ The Principality of Sealand – Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "2023 Sealand Stamps Collection".