Tonga,
an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean comprising 176 islands spread
over 270,000 square miles of ocean has a total land area of 289 square
miles and a population of around 104,000. Its economy is dependent on a
non-monetary section, a small manufacturing sector, and on remittances
from its citizens living abroad. The development plan to improve its
economic condition include privatizing the public sector, improving
agriculture, developing the tourism industry, and exploring options to
diversify the economy into fisheries and timber. Tonga is committed to
decreasing dependency on fossil fuels by pursuing renewable energy
options.
Travel Resources:
May
to October is the best time to visit Tonga. The major attractions are
the Waterways of Vava’u, Blowholes of Tongatapu, Haapai, Cliffs of Eua
Island, and the Nukualofa Market. Major activities include snorkeling,
whale watching, game fishing, surfing, and hiking. Tonga cuisine is meat
and seafood based and sauced in coconut milk. Other items are taro,
cassava, yams and banana. Traditional food is cooked in an underground
oven called umu.
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of Tonga were a set of five stamps released between 1886 and 1892 showing a head portrait of King George I.
The set (
Scott #1 to #5) catalogs for around $180 mint and around $50 for used.
A
few varieties of the King George I design, a Coat of Arms design, a
King George II design, and several surcharge overprints formed the
primary stamp issues of Tonga till 1897. Tonga released a set of fifteen
stamps showing local scenes between 1897 and 1934. The set (
Scott #38 to #52)
catalogs for around $350 mint and around $300 used. The designs show
Coat of Arms, ovava tree, King George II, prehistoric trilithon at
Tongatabu, breadfruit, coral formations, view of Haabai, red-breasted
musk parrot, and view of Vavau. The ovava tree issue from the set (
Scott #40) was reissued in 1899 with the ‘T L’ and ‘1 June, 1899’ overprint. The stamp (
Scott #53)
catalogs for around $35 mint and around double that for used. The stamp
was issued to mark the marriage of King George II to Lavinia. There is
an error variety with the overprint reading 1889 instead of 1899 and
that one catalogs for around $225 mint and around $400 used. Tonga
became a British-protected state under a Treaty of Friendship on May 18,
1900. It was the only island nation in the region to have avoided
formal colonization.
Tonga issued a set of nine stamps between 1920 and 1935 showing a portrait of Queen Salote. The set (
Scott #54 to #62)
catalogs for around $40 mint and around double that for used. A number
of issues portraying Queen Salote in different designs along with
several common design types formed the primary stamp issues of Tonga
during the period till 1951. The Treaty of Friendship and Tonga’s
protectorate status ended in 1970 through steps initiated by Queen
Salote before her death in 1965.
Other issues of Tonga enjoying good philatelic interest include:
A set of fourteen stamps released on July 1, 1953 showing local scenes. The set (Scott #100 to #113)
catalogs for around $45 MNH and around $25 used. The designs show Royal
Palace at Nukualofa, fisherman, canoe and schooners, Swallows’ Cave at
Vavau, Map of Tongatabu, Vavau Harbor, Post Office at Nukualofa,
Fuaamotu Airport, Wharf at Nukualofa, Beach at Lifuka at Haapai, Mutiny
on the Bounty, Queen Salote, and Arms of Tonga, and Map of Tonga
Islands. Starting in the early 60s, Tonga issued a number of stamps that
look like labels in odd shapes. Many of the sets catalog in the
five-to-ten dollar range. The practice continued until the 80s.
A set of four stamps released on March 12, 1984 showing Navigators and Explorers of the Pacific and their Ships. The set (Scott #559 to #562)
catalogs for around $20 MNH or used. The designs show Abel Tasman the
Discoverer of Tonga and his Zeehan, Samuel Wallis and Dolphin, William
Bligh and Bounty, and James Cook and Resolution. 
A set of four stamps released on October 25, 1990 to mark the 40th anniversary of the UN Development Program. The set (Scott #760 to #763)
catalogs for around $25 MNH or used. The designs show pictures
representing tourism, agriculture and fisheries, education, and
Healthcare inside ‘UNDP’ inscription which forms the main design.
Tonga’s economy consists mainly of handicrafts, subsistence agriculture,
tourism, sale of postage stamps, and heavy dependence on remittances
from a majority of the population that lives abroad in Australia, New
Zealand, and the United States.
A set of five stamps released on May 19, 1999 showing Scenic Views of Vava’u. The set (Scott #1018 to #1022)
catalogs for around $8 MNH and a little less for used. The designs show
Neiafu, boats on water, Port of Refuge, aerial view of Port of Refuge,
sunset at Neiafu, and Mounu Island. Vava’u is a popular spot for whale
watching, game fishing, and surfing making it a player in the South
Pacific tourism market.
Numismatic Profile:
The
first coin of Tonga was a Kingdom Standard Coinage (16 Pounds = 1
Koula) one-fourth Koula 0.2395 troy ounce gold coin issued in 1962
showing a head portrait of Queen Salote in Obverse and Crowned Arms in
Reverse. A Platinum version of the same coin along with other
denominations were also issued the same year. Mintage for these issues
are very low (less than 1000) and they trade at a premium over bullion
value. Decimal Coinage (100 Senti = 1 Pa’anga, 100 Pa’anga = 1 Hau)
Bronze Senitis debut in 1967. The first issues had mintage of 500K and
catalogs in the dollar range for UNC. Distinct rectangular Copper-Nickel
FAO issues debut in 1977 and they catalog in the $10 range for BU. The
first gold coin was a 0.7666 troy ounce Pa’anga gold proof in the
Christmas theme with seven sides released in 1982. The issue had very
low mintage (250) but remarkably catalogs only at a very slight premium
over bullion value.
Numismatic items of Tonga include:
| Item | Price Range | Description |
| Coins | $1 and up | Common
UNC Senitis starts around $1. Proof Year Sets from the 1960s onward,
FAO Sets in UNC, Rectangles and seven-sided coins in VF+, etc start
around $10. Commemorative Silver Proofs from the 1980s and 1990s,
Coronation Mint Box Proof Set of 1967, etc start around $50. Silver
Rectange Proofs, Gold Proofs, etc go well into the 100s. |
| Paper Money | $3 and up | Common
UNC Pa’angas starts around $3. UNC Year Sets, Consecutive Serial
Numbers with 5-pieces or more in UNC, etc start around $10. Rare
Complete Specimen Sets from the 1970s, Early Banknotes from the 1930s in
VF+, etc start around $50 and go well into the 100s. |
Collectible Memorabilia:
Tikis, masks, baskets, mats, tapa, etc are souvenirs from Tonga.
| Resource | Price Range | Description |
| Miscellaneous Collectibles | $2 and up | Patches,
Collector Spoons, Patches, Magnets etc start around $2. Wood Carved
Tray Abalones, Tapa Cloth Paintings, etc start around $30. |
Last Updated: 12/2015.
a territory which became an autonomous republic of the Georgian Soviet
Socialist Republic in 1921. Batum and surrounding areas came under the
administration of British forces between 12/1918 and 07/1920 following the
Treaty of Versailles. Prior to World War I, the area was under Russian rule.
Currently, Batum (Batumi) is the main port of Georgia and is considered
Georgia’s second capital. It is located around 14 miles from the Turkish border
and the setting is unbeatable with Black Sea on one side and mountains on the
other. Tourism forms one of the main activities in the area – much of it is
around the wonderful beaches although there are Roman ruins and castles one can
explore. 
Prior to 1918, Russian stamps were
used in the area. The British occupation following WWI saw the British issuing
Batum stamps, as the existing Russian stock started to ran out. The first
stamps were a set of six imperforate stamps in single colors issued in 1919.
The set (Scott #1 to #6) catalogs for around $50 Mint and around double that
for Used. The design showed an aloe tree. 
The period till 1920 saw the British reissuing the first set
with the “British Occupation” overprints. Chief among them was a set of eight
stamps (Scott #13 to #20) issued in 1919. The set catalogs for around $60 Mint
and around $75 Used. There is an error variety of the 5r brown (Scott #19a -
“CCUPATION” overprint) that is very rare and catalogs in the $500 range for
Mint or Used. 
Forgeries of many of these issues are known to exist and so
it is critical that any acquisition of these stamps be sourced from reputable
dealers. 
