Owner Comments:
5F 1952:
In my research of this coin, I have been unable to ascertain the identity of the woman on this coin’s obverse. I found information suggesting that she is Minerva but the imagery is inconsistent with other coins featuring Minerva. I thought the woman maybe Marianne but here again there is conflicting imagery. I thought that she may even be Miss Liberty, but the throne is incompatible with her imagery. What I can tell is that she is representative of French sovereignty over New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna and that these three French territories share a common obverse on their coins with separate reverses.
Regardless of the woman’s identity, the other imagery of this coin speaks volumes. Therefore, rather than develop the allegory based on the identity of the woman, I will use the other imagery to expand on the significance of this coin.
Except for the lions, the throne is indicative of native Polynesian design and represents the people of New Caledonia and French Polynesia. The lions at the end of the armrests symbolize bravery, valor, strength, and royalty. The woman sitting on the throne represents French sovereignty. The other symbols point to the advantages the people of New Caledonia and French Polynesia enjoy under the sovereignty of France.
The seated woman on this coin has her eyes fixated on the torch she is holding representing freedom. The winged Phrygian cap she is wearing illustrates her status as a free citizen and freedom of thought. Interestingly, the use of a Phrygian cap on this coin rather than a crown seems to imply that the woman not only represents French sovereignty, but the people of France themselves. The cornucopia and olive branch represent prosperity, abundance, and peace. The stone tablets behind the throne are reminiscent of the 10 Commandments and suggest that New Caledonia and French Polynesia is under the rule of law. Altogether, this imagery perfectly aligns with the French values of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Thus, the woman sitting on the throne suggests to me that whatever blessings of Liberty France enjoys, New Caledonia and French Polynesia also enjoys.
Incidentally, when the issue of New Caledonian independence went to referendum in 1987, it fell to defeat by a large majority of votes. Under French sovereignty, New Caledonia enjoys a great deal of autonomy and is the only territory or country that flies two official flags.
The reverse of this coin features the New Caledonian national bird, the endangered kagu bird.