1 oz Fiji Iguana Silver Coin

Scottsdale Mint's Fijian Endangered Species Coin

The 1 oz Scottsdale Mint Fiji Iguana is a .999 fine silver bullion coin featuring the Fijian banded iguana (Brachylophus), a species endemic to the Fiji Islands and classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Produced by Scottsdale Mint in Arizona under licence from the Republic of Fiji, the coin carries legal tender status with a face value of FJD $1.

This coin was issued in 2015 and 2016 with a mintage of 75,000 per year, making it a short-lived two-year programme. It succeeded the 1 oz Fiji Taku after that series moved to Niue under the New Zealand Mint. The Iguana was the first legal tender Fijian silver coin struck by Scottsdale Mint, marking the beginning of a broader relationship between the Arizona mint and Pacific Island nations.

Each coin ships in Scottsdale Mint's proprietary Certi-Lock sealed capsule, a tamper-evident hard plastic enclosure that cannot be opened without visible damage. This provides built-in authentication without requiring third-party assay. Multiples of 25 come sealed in Lion Hallmark packaging strips. The proof-like finish on a bullion-priced coin was considered strong value at release, and the series' brief two-year run makes complete sets straightforward to assemble on the secondary market.

The Fijian banded iguana was chosen for its significance as one of Fiji's most iconic native species. The genus Brachylophus is found only in the Fiji Islands and Tonga, making it uniquely Pacific. The species has an estimated wild population of approximately 6,000 individuals, threatened by habitat destruction, invasive predators including black rats and mongooses, and deforestation. It is protected under CITES Appendix I, making international trade in live specimens illegal.

Fiji Iguana Coin Specifications

The obverse features the Fijian banded iguana perched on a branch amid tropical foliage, with inscriptions noting the series name, year of issue, weight, purity, and metal content. The reverse displays Fiji's national crest: a heraldic shield flanked by two Fijian warriors, topped by a traditional Fijian canoe, with inscriptions identifying the nation, year, and face value.

The coin's 38.6 mm diameter is standard for a 1 oz silver bullion piece, matching most sovereign coins in the class. The proof-like finish provides mirror-like fields with frosted raised elements, giving it a more refined appearance than a standard brilliant uncirculated strike.

Tax Treatment for the Fiji Iguana Silver Coin

As a .999 fine silver coin with legal tender status in Fiji, tax treatment varies by jurisdiction. The coin's sovereign status from a recognised nation helps in markets where legal tender silver receives preferential treatment, though Fiji's non-Commonwealth/non-EU status limits some exemptions.

United States

Subject to state-by-state sales tax rules. Approximately 35 states exempt precious metals from sales tax entirely, with several others offering threshold-based exemptions. The coin qualifies for precious metals IRA inclusion due to its .999 purity and legal tender status from a recognised sovereign nation. Capital gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of 28% for holdings over one year.

United Kingdom

Silver coins from non-UK territories attract 20% VAT regardless of legal tender status. The coin is not CGT-exempt because CGT exemption requires British legal tender status specifically, not Commonwealth or foreign legal tender. Pre-owned examples may be available under the margin scheme from some UK dealers, reducing effective VAT to near zero on the dealer's margin only.

Canada

Silver bullion refined to 99.9% purity or higher is exempt from GST/HST in bar, ingot, coin, or wafer form. The Fiji Iguana at .999 purity qualifies for this exemption. Capital gains are subject to the 50% inclusion rate.

Australia

Investment-grade silver (99.9% pure or higher in a form commonly traded on commodity markets) is GST-exempt. The Fiji Iguana at .999 (99.9%) meets this threshold.

European Union

Silver coins from non-EU nations are subject to full local VAT rates (17-27% depending on country). The German margin scheme (Differenzbesteuerung) may apply to pre-owned examples purchased from EU dealers.

Fiji Iguana vs Other Pacific Island Silver Coins

The Fiji Iguana occupies a specific niche: a limited-mintage legal tender silver coin from a Pacific Island nation, struck by a US private mint. Several competitors target the same market segment with different approaches.

The 1 oz Fiji Taku from New Zealand Mint was the direct predecessor as Fiji's silver bullion coin. The Taku ran from 2010 to 2013 with higher mintages (up to 350,000 for the 1 oz silver) and a larger 40.5 mm diameter. When New Zealand Mint moved the hawksbill turtle programme to Niue, it created the opening that Scottsdale Mint filled with the Iguana. The Taku's higher mintages make it more liquid on the secondary market, but the Iguana's 75,000 per year production offers more scarcity.

Against the Perth Mint's Kookaburra and Koala series, the Fiji Iguana is significantly more scarce (75,000 vs millions of coins annually) but comes from a less established mint with lower brand recognition in the global bullion market. Perth Mint coins benefit from stronger dealer networks and broader Australian legal tender recognition.

The 1 oz Fiji Samurai from the same manufacturer had an even lower mintage at 15,000 pieces with .9999 purity, positioning it more firmly in the collector-bullion crossover space. The Iguana at 75,000 mintage and .999 purity sits closer to the pure bullion end of the spectrum.

Scottsdale Mint's primary advantage is its Certi-Lock packaging system, which provides tamper-evident authentication without third-party grading. This is a practical benefit for secondary market trading where authentication matters. The coin's two-year-only production run means supply is finite, and earlier 2015 editions may carry slight premiums as the inaugural Scottsdale Mint sovereign coin for Fiji.