Coins

Seychelles, Republic, Pattern or Trial Rupee and 50 Cents, both 1977, in nickel (?), head of James Mancham right, revs. conch shell and vanilla orchid, edges finely grained, 11.64g/12h, 5.82g/12h (KM –; cf. DNW 140, 1379) [2]. Extremely fine and very rare £300-£400

Sir James Mancham, whose head appeared on the obverses of the 1976 Seychelles issues and on the 25 rupees Silver Jubilee commemorative issued in early 1977, was deposed in a coup on 5 June 1977 led by the islands' prime minister, France-Albert Renée, with the help of Tanzanian mercenaries. These two coins, almost certainly struck by the Royal Mint in the early months of 1977, were to designs copying those of 1976. The new regime ordered that Mancham's head be removed from the coins forthwith and substituted by the islands' coat of arms