Coins and postage stamps of Sealand

Early Sealandic stamps

The Principality of Sealand, a 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

Series of 1994

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$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	Tower Mint
SX$100	Prince Roy, Princess Joan and the Principality of Sealand	Sealand Arms	1977	.900 Gold	2000

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)

Vasco da Gama 1497 – 2c (later 10c)
Christopher Columbus 1492 – 3c (later 10c)
Sir Walter Raleigh 1584 – 5c (later 5c)
Sir Francis Drake 1588 – 6c (later 10c)
Captain James Cook 1770 – 14c (later 10c)
Ferdinand Magellan 1519 – 20c (later 20c)
Sir Martin Frobisher 1578 – 50c (later 10c)

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 $3.50
Red stamp $1.50
Blue stamp "Inland"^[5]

Notes and references

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

External links

[1] Sealand – Its Story and Its Coins

[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

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