Micronations/List of already existing micronations/Principality of Hutt River

Micronation in Australia The Principality of Hutt River, often referred to by its former name, the Hutt River Province, is an unrecognized micronation in Australia. The principality claims to be an independent sovereign state founded on 21 April 1970. The territory is located 517 km (354 mi) north of Perth, near the town of Northampton in the state of Western Australia. It has an area of 75 km2 sqmi, making it larger than several independent countries. It is not recognized as a country by the Australian Government or any other national government, and the High Court of Australia and Supreme Court of Western Australia have rejected submissions arguing that it is not subject to Australian laws.Casley v Commissioner of Taxation [2007] HCATrans 590; Casley v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2017] WASCA 196, [8]. The principality is a regional tourist attraction and issues its own currency, stamps and passports (which are not recognised by the Australian government or any other government). The micronation was founded on 21 April 1970 when Leonard Casley declared his farm to be an independent country, the Hutt River Province. He attempted to secede from Australia over a dispute concerning wheat production quotas. A few years later, Casley began styling himself as "Prince Leonard" and granting family members royal titles, although he did not include the word "principality" in the official name until 2006. In February 2017, at the age of 91 and after ruling for 45 years, Casley abdicated the throne in favor of his youngest son, http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-01/prince-leonard-of-hutt-river-principality-abdicates-to-son/8232730?pfmredir=sm Prince Leonard of Hutt River Principality abdicates to son Graeme – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sarah Taillier 1 February 2017 abc.net.au Prince Graeme.https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-38980583 Australian micronation 'prince' abdicates after 46 years 15 February 2017 BBC News 20 September 2017 en-GBhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-12/prince-leonard-abdicates-long-live-prince-graeme/8262748 Hutt River Principality now ruled by Prince Graeme as Prince Leonard stands aside 11 February 2017 ABC News 20 September 2017 en-AU Sarah Taillier Sebastian Neuweiler Casley died on 13 February 2019.https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/royal-family/hutt-river-micro-nation-founder-prince-leonard-dead-aged-93-ng-b881104543z Hutt River micro-nation founder Prince Leonard dead aged 93 PerthNow Francesca Mann 13 February 2019 14 February 2019https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-13/prince-leonard-who-founded-hutt-river-province-dies-aged-93/10808236 Prince Leonard, who founded Hutt River Province after stoush with WA government, dies aged 93 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Natasha Harradine 13 February 2019 13 February 2019 History thumb|Leonard Casley bust Leonard Casley (28 August 1925 – 13 February 2019)https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/leonard-casley-obituary-tvn6h5l0g Leonard Casley obituary 5 March 2019 www.thetimes.co.uk declared the principality an independent province in 1970 in response to a dispute with the government of Western Australia over what the Casley family considered draconian wheat production quotas. The Casley farm had around 4000 ha acre of wheat ready to harvest when the quotas were issued, which allowed Casley to sell only 1,647 bushels or approximately 40 ha acre.http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/04/21/4220720.htm Wheatbelt Royals: the future of the Principality of Hutt River Arnall Karla 21 April 2015 ABC 19 April 2018 en-AU dmy-all Initially, the five families who owned farms at Hutt River banded together to fight the quota,April 2018 and Casley lodged a protest with the Governor of Western Australia, Sir Douglas Kendrew. The governor did not assist. Casley lodged a court claim in tort against the governor for A$52 million in the hope the claim would force a revision of the quota. Casley also claimed he made a successful court claim using the law of unjust enrichment to successfully seize government land surrounding his farm which he hoped would increase his wheat quota.April 2018 Two weeks later, Casley claimed the government introduced a bill into Parliament to "resume" his and the other families' lands under compulsory acquisition laws. At this point, Casley claimed that international law allowed them to secede and declare independence from the Commonwealth of Australia. Casley said that he nonetheless remains loyal to Queen Elizabeth II.8 June 2008 Secession Success The AdvertiserHutt River Province ninemsn Getaway 14 October 2004 From this time on Casley asserted that the Principality had successfully seceded from Australia. April 2018 At about this time, Prince Leonard claimed that in correspondence with the governor-general's office, Casley was on one occasion inadvertently addressed as the "Administrator of the Hutt River Province". Casley claimed that this constitutes legally binding recognition of the principality. At about this time, Casley styled himself "His Majesty Prince Leonard I of Hutt". Casley did this because he believed it would enable him to take advantage of the British Treason Act of 1495, which provides that the de facto king of a nation cannot be guilty of treason in relation to any act against the lawful king and that anyone who interfered with that monarch's duties could be charged with treason."A man's Hutt is his castle", The Age, 24 April 2010. No government or legal scholar has ever accepted this legal theory of Prince Leonard's.April 2018 Prince Leonard said that he continued to sell his wheat in open defiance of the quota.Heaton Andrew Prince of the Outback Reason magazine 14 May 2013 http://reason.com/archives/2013/05/14/prince-of-the-outback 10 February 2014 Casley believed that under Australian law the federal government had two years to respond to Casley's declaration of sovereignty. Casley says the failure to respond gave the province "de facto autonomy" on 21 April 1972, but that the Western Australian government can still dispute the secession.Ryan John 2006 Micronations Lonely Planet 1-74104-730-7 thumb|left|upright|Principality of Hutt River On 15 February 1977, despite Casley's claims to sovereignty, Casley was successfully prosecuted for failing to comply with requirements to furnish the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) with required documents. On 2 December 1977 the principality declared war on Australia. Casley notified authorities of the cessation of hostilities several days later. It may be more than coincidence that this declaration of war came in just a few months after a court decision where Casley was fined for failing to furnish the ATO with certain documents. The short state of war between the principality and Australia was a scheme where Casley's purpose was to argue that, under the Geneva Treaty Convention of 12 August 1949, a government should show full respect to a nation undefeated from a state of war.Bicudo de Castro Vicente Kober Ralph The Principality of Hutt River: A Territory Marooned in the Western Australian Outback https://doi.org/10.21463/shima.12.1.13 Shima: The International Journal of Research into Island Cultures 12 1 143–159 Casley then wrote to the governor general and asserted that: "Sovereignty is automatic to a country undefeated in a state of war ... and if the state of war is not recognized by the other party, once the notice is given then these conventions apply to their relations." Again, there is no support for this theory.April 2018 In 1978, Casley appealed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia against a conviction for conducting a shop on his property without a permit. His appeal was dismissed, except to alter the penalty. Casley did not suggest his land was not subject to Australian law in this appeal. April 2018 In 1970 and 1984, Casley unsuccessfully defended civil legal actions brought against him by private parties – in the former case an injunction was granted against him in relation to a land deal, in the latter case he was ordered to pay debts owed to a publishing company he had contracted to print copies of a book called The Man, which was about himself and his achievements. Casley did not suggest in these cases that he was not subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Australia. In the early 1980s, the principality declared itself to be a kingdom, but soon reverted to its original status of a principality. April 2018 The principality released a number of stamps and coins. April 2018 In about 2006, Casley was again successfully prosecuted by the ATO. He sought special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia, but his application was dismissed with the comment that his arguments were "fatuous, frivolous and vexatious". In September 2006, Casley decided to change the province's name to "Principality of Hutt River".Micronation renaming In January 2017, Casley announced that, after ruling for 45 years, he would be stepping down as prince, to be succeeded by his youngest son, Graeme. With a number of potential sons and daughters, the successor was nominated by Casley and approved by a crown committee. Some commentary at the time had expected his older son, Lan, to be the successor.http://www.businessinsider.com.au/prince-leonard-is-handing-over-control-of-australias-oldest-micronation-2017-1 Prince Leonard is handing over control of Australia's oldest micronation Chris Pash 31 January 2017 businessinsider.com.auhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-06/australias-oldest-micro-nation-monarch-considers-retirement/6749604 Hutt River Principality: Monarch of Australia's oldest micro-nation considers passing baton to heir Sarah Taillier 6 September 2015 ABC News 2 February 2017 In June 2017, Casley was ordered by the Supreme Court of Western Australia to pay $2.7 million unpaid tax, and Wayne Casley was ordered to pay $242,000 unpaid tax.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-16/hutt-river-province-decision-on-ato-fight/8624450 Australia's oldest micro-nation founders ordered to pay $3m tax bill Neuweiler Sebastian Joanna Menagh 16 June 2017 ABC News 19 April 2018 en-AU dmy-all Status Treatment by Australia The principality has no legal status as a matter of Australian law. In 2007 the High Court of Australia dismissed an application by Casley for leave to appeal against a judgment against him in favor of the Commissioner of Taxation relating to Prince Leonard's failure to file tax returns. Prince Leonard argued he resided in the "Hutt River Province" and that that it is not part of Australia and not subject to Australian taxation law. The court dismissed Casley's application and found that "the arguments advanced by the applicants [are] fatuous, frivolous and vexatious." This seems to determine conclusively that, so far as Australia's highest court of law is concerned, the principality does not have independent status as a country. Moreover, the Australian government on its official website, and on many occasions where it has proven necessary, has unequivocally stated it does not recognize the secession of the principality.http://australia.gov.au/faq/hutt-river-province What is the Hutt River Province? 22 February 1999 australia.gov.au https://web.archive.org/web/20140430061134/https://australia.gov.au/faq/hutt-river-province 30 April 2014 30 April 2014http://www.uae.embassy.gov.au/abud/huttriver.html Australian Government Does Not Recognise The Hutt River Province Australian Embassy, United Arab Emirates 22 May 2009 Passports issued by the principality are not recognized by the Australian government. Prince Leonard made unverified claims that they have been accepted on some occasions by some unspecified foreign countries. Despite these claims, there is a documented instance of a man being arrested in Germany for attempting to use a Hutt River Province 'diplomatic passport'.https://dfat.gov.au/about-us/corporate/freedom-of-information/Documents/dfat-foi-F594-release-2.pdf DFAT FOI documents regarding Hutt River Province https://web.archive.org/web/20170213001549/https://dfat.gov.au/about-us/corporate/freedom-of-information/Documents/dfat-foi-F594-release-2.pdf 13 February 2017 Prince Leonard claimed that in 2012 the ATO sent him a tax demand to which he simply responded with a document stating he was a "foreign national and non-resident of Australia". He also repeatedly claimed that while he was required to lodge income tax forms, he was classed by the ATO as a "non-resident of Australia for income tax purposes" and did not pay tax.Micronation Master: Prince Leonard of Hutt River Bloomberg Businessweek 17 May 2012The Royal Showman ABC News 5 May 2010"Now Leonard wants a uni.", by Karen Valenti, 17 February 2003, Gold Coast Bulletin, p. 15http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-17/micronation-master-prince-leonard-of-hutt-river#p2 Micronation Master: Prince Leonard of Hutt River Matt Siegel 17 May 2012 30 April 2014 Bloomberg Businessweek In 2017, however, Justice Le Miere of the Supreme Court of Western Australia ordered Prince Leonard to pay more than A$2.7 million in unpaid taxes, and Arthur Casley to pay more than A$242,000 in unpaid taxes. The judge said: "[T]he defendants [argue] ... the court does not have jurisdiction over the defendant[s] or to hear the matter because they are the sovereign of, or citizen of, the Hutt River Province which is an independent sovereign state. That argument has no legal merit or substance. Anyone can declare themselves a sovereign in their own home but they cannot ignore the laws of Australia or not pay tax."https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-40298433 'Micronation' loses Australian tax battle 16 June 2017 www.bbc.com An appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed. Despite this, the principality continues to argue it is an independent entity within the Australian legal system. The principality has repeatedly tried to use a document that is purportedly a letter from the Commonwealth Department of Territories admitting, amongst other things, that the principality is a "legal entity", to further its arguments.http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/Principality%20Downloads/Historic%20Documents/AUSTEO%20SECRET%20Document.pdf 'Secret document' The Australian government has noted that Casley "has used the document in various countries in the past and even sent a copy of it to Senator Evans in 1993".https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/251/response/1040/attach/3/F594%20release%202.PDF.pdf Diplomatic documents regarding the Hutt River Province released under FOI laws The Australian Government has also told foreign governments the following about this document: "We have seen the purported 'Department of Territories Minute' before. The clumsy language, including a Malapropian use of 'a mute point' gives it away for what it is, a poorly attempted forgery." The principality also has claimed that all social security benefits were withdrawn from Hutt River's residents at the time of secession by the Australian government. It further claims that residents do not receive pensions, medical benefits, educational allowances, child endowments or benefits normally paid to war veterans. Despite voting being compulsory by law in Australia, Casley also claimed to have successfully removed the names of Hutt River residents from the Australian electoral roll. Casley admitted he made annual payments to the Shire of Northampton, the local government authority, although he chose to characterize these payments as "gifts" rather than council rates.Rewards for Rebellion: Tiny Nation and Crown for Life The New York Times 1 February 2011 The principality has said that it levies its own income tax of 0.5% on financial transactions by foreign companies registered in the province and personal accounts. There have been some occasions where organisations have stated the province has some sort of sovereignty, including the following: The National Museum of Australia contains an exhibition on the theme of "Separation" within Australia which includes a Hutt River Province display which states that Casley "successfully seceded from Australia".http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/eternity/separation Separation – National Museum of Australia nma.gov.au Judy Lattas, a sociologist at Macquarie University, once incorrectly stated "many officials in Western Australia, some quite high up, and even nationally in Australia are happy to play out the myth of Hutt River's sovereignty [by] attending [Hutt River] functions, returning correspondence [and] abandoning the claim for tax." In 2005, the Shire of Northampton listed the principality as having "high historic and social significance as the site of Australia's only independent principality."http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/7fdbc0c0-acd4-483e-8aa8-b916b262064e# Hutt River Province Shire of Northampton Heritage Council of Western Australia Municipal Heritage Inventory 15 February 2014 The principality appears on Google Maps, but only as a "tourist attraction".http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/27/travel/micronations/index.html The people who create their own 'countries' CNN Mark Johanson, for cnn.com In 2010, Brendon Grylls, the then Western Australian Minister for Regional Development and Lands, was asked if his state had a "position" on the principality. He replied "Only that Prince Leonard is an enigma ... There is nothing currently on my agenda as Minister ...that relates to that." Treatment by overseas nations From 1984 to 2010, Australian diplomatic missions in 28 countries exchanged 120 diplomatic cables with Australia concerning activities relating to the Principality. In 2008, the Council of the European Union issued a memorandum identifying Hutt River passports among known "fantasy passports ... issued by private organizations and individuals" to which a visa should not be affixed.http://www.udiregelverk.no/~/media/Images/Rettskilder/Schengen%20rettskilder/Table%20of%20travel%20documents/St16225%20En08_Part%20V_01%2012%202008.ashx https://web.archive.org/web/20120309171900/http://www.udiregelverk.no/~/media/Images/Rettskilder/Schengen%20rettskilder/Table%20of%20travel%20documents/St16225%20En08_Part%20V_01%2012%202008.ashx dead Information concerning known fantasy and camouflage passports 9 March 2012 Hong Kong does not recognise the principality, but its corporate registry did at one point recognize the Principality as a place where a company could be incorporated. The Hong Kong Registry, however, were looking at reviewing their list of accredited places for company incorporation after the issue was raised in an adverse manner by Australian media.Mercer, Daniel "Hong Kong gives nod to Hutt River", The West Australian, 28 January 2012, p. 23.http://www.theage.com.au/business/some-like-it-hutt-but-others-beg-to-differ-20120126-1qjku.html Some like it hutt but others beg to differ 26 January 2012 The Age Wood, Leonie In 2008, a 48-year-old French man who claimed to be an ambassador representing the Principality to the United Arab Emirates, his 36-year-old female compatriot and a 28-year-old Pakistani man, were charged by the UAE over issuing travel documents and selling land in the Principality to UAE residents under false pretenses.http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/hutt-river-ambassador-accused-of-conning-people-1.93148 Hutt River 'ambassador' accused of conning people Za'za' Bassam 26 March 2008 23 January 2014 Gulf News Casley stated the man had no diplomatic standing in the Principality and had only made a single visit to the province.http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/man-claims-to-be-hutt-ambassador/2008/03/27/1206207294314.html Defendant claims to be Hutt ambassador AAP/AFP 27 March 2008 23 January 2014 The Age In April 2016, the Principality received a letter from Queen Elizabeth II which communicated the Queen's good wishes on the anniversary of the founding of the Principality 46 years ago, on 21 April 1970. The letter from Buckingham Palace is signed by Sonia Bonici, Senior Correspondence Officer. It reads in part: “I am to convey Her Majesty’s good wishes to you and to all concerned for a most enjoyable and successful celebration on 23rd and 24th of April to mark the forty-sixth anniversary of the Principality of Hutt River.” The Queen was replying to a letter from Prince Leonard congratulating her on her 90th birthday.http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australias-oldest-micronation-finally-gets-recognition-from-buckingham-palace-2016-4 This 46-year-old Australian micronation has finally been recognised by Buckingham Palace Pash Chris 21 April 2016 businessinsider.com.au Statistics The Principality is situated 517 km north of Perth, along the Hutt River. It is about 75.9 square km in size. Exports include wildflowers, stamps and coins and agricultural produce which is also exported overseas. Tourism is also important to the economy with 40,000 tourists, predominantly from overseas countries, visiting the principality every year.http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_people/Transcripts/s833528.htm Prince Leonard 28 July 2007 Brendan Hutchens 16 April 2003 George Negus Tonight: people Australian Broadcasting Commission took the title 'Prince', his wife became Princess Shirley, and together they turned their principality into a tourist destination."The Mouse that Roared", ABC News, 18 April 2010 While the Principality has only 23 residents, it claims a worldwide citizenry of 14,000."The unknown country within Australia", Off the Path, 17 June 2011. The Principality has no standing army, but a number of its citizens have been awarded military commissions. Honorary guardsmen attend Casley on formal occasions and, despite being completely landlocked, naval commissions have been conferred on supporters of the principality.April 2019 Since 2 September 2004, Hutt River Province/Principality has accepted company registrations. At least one company experienced in the registration of entities in traditional offshore jurisdictions (British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands etc.) as tax havens has been authorized to act as a registered agent for PHR incorporations.http://www.taxhaven-opm.org Offshore Financial And Legal Consultant The Offshore Yellow Pages. A directory of Tax Havens. 9 June 2008 On 29 March 2005 the Hutt River Province International Business Company announced it would accept registrations of company trusts which have since been promoted worldwide by registered financial agents.Development of Asset Protection Structures "Mondaq Business Briefing" Mondaq Ltd. 29 March 2005 HighBeam Research accessed 14 June 2012 Concerned that Hutt River registrations "may be sold as part of a tax avoidance or evasion arrangement", in April 2012 the Australian Taxation Office warned potential purchasers that the registrations have no legal basis and "could be illegal".http://www.ato.gov.au/atp/content.aspx?doc=/content/62019.htm&pc=001/008/002/015&mnu=0&mfp=&st=&cy= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160523173303/http://www.ato.gov.au/atp/content.aspx?doc=/content/62019.htm&pc=001/008/002/015&mnu=0&mfp=&st=&cy= dead 23 May 2016 Aggressive Tax Planning: 'Hutt River Province' and international business companies Australian Taxation Office ato.gov.au Hutt River also allows car registrations, including issuing license plates to overseas vehicles.April 2019 The principality's capital, Nain, is named after Nain in Galilee. The chapel contains numerous paintings of early Galilee and surrounds. When the Principality seceded, a bill of rights, a brief document outlining the rights of "Hutt River" citizens, was drafted. It also provided for an administration board to govern the principality until a permanent form of government could be established. When Casley declared himself "Prince", the administration board clause lost effect and the Hutt River Principality became an absolute monarchy, with a legislation committee to draft new legislation.April 2019 In 1997, the legislation committee presented a proposal for a constitution to Casley and his cabinet.https://web.archive.org/web/20150425052928/http://www.principality-hutt-river.org/Principality%20Downloads/A5%20PHR%20Rev%2001%20Constitution.pdf 25 April 2015 http://www.principality-hutt-river.org/Principality%20Downloads/A5%20PHR%20Rev%2001%20Constitution.pdf Principality of Hutt River Constitution, Rev 01 Principality of Hutt River 2010 Although he and the cabinet never officially adopted the proposal, there is a decree stating that any constitution will be in effect while under consideration, except for any clauses that conflict with the bill of rights, so the proposal has essentially become a provisional constitution. Casley family "His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I of Hutt" was the style used by Leonard Casley from the creation of the Principality until his death. Prince Leonard pursued a number of occupations before purchasing a large wheat farm near the towns of Northampton and Geraldton in the 1960s. He worked for a shipping company based in Perth and, although he left school at 14, described himself as a mathematician and physicist and claimed to have written articles for NASA. He was an adherent of hermeticism, a subject on which he privately published a number of research papers and books. He is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/now_showing/eternity/separation Exhibitions: Eternity – Separation National Museum of Australia In a further application of bush law he changed the province to a principality and declared himself Prince Leonard and his wife Princess Shirley. He had successfully seceded from Australia. 13 May 2007 NMA Homepage Prince Leonard was married to Shirley Casley (née Butler) until her death on 7 July 2013.Hutt River's 'princess' Shirley Casley dies aged 85 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hutt-rivers-princess-shirley-casley-dies-aged-85/story-e6frg6nf-1226677017279 10 July 2013 theaustralian.com.au 10 July 2013 The Principality went into a period of mourning, closing some of its services.Yolanda Zaw The West Australian http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/17938862/tributes-for-hutt-river-matriarch/ Tributes for Hutt River matriarch Au.news.yahoo.com 10 July 2013 30 April 2014http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-09/hutt--river-principality-princess-dies-peacefully/4809000?section=wa Hutt River principality princess dies peacefully ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 9 July 2013 30 April 2014 She was styled as "Her Royal Highness Princess Shirley of Hutt, Dame of the Rose of Sharon". Princess Shirley played host to dignitaries and diplomatic representatives visiting the Principality each year as well as receiving television crews and magazine journalists. She was the patron and chair of the board of directors of the Red Cross of Hutt, a parallel organization to the International Red Cross.HRH Princess Shirley Principality of Hutt River.com Leonard and Shirley had seven children, among them Ian Casley ("Prince Ian", born 1947) and Graeme Casley. Prince Ian is involved in wildflower production, with the product being exported to Perth and internationally. Prince Graeme succeeded his father in an enthronement ceremony that took place on 11 February 2017. April 2018 Prince Leonard claimed the use of titles is purely practical as they are required for legal purposes. April 2018 Currency Summary The Principality's currency is the Hutt River dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. The Hutt River dollar is pegged at a one-to-one ratio with the Australian dollar.http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/Principality%20Downloads/CAB%20Article%20Nov%202013.pdf The Coins of HRH Prince Leonard I Rogers Kerry Australian Coin and Banknote Magazine 10 February 2014 All authorized Principality coins are minted by Canada's Lombardo Mint and the New Queensland Mint. The Principality introduced a set of low denomination banknotes in 1974. These are denominated from 10 cents to two dollars. Principality coins were issued from 1976. First series: 1976–78 Four denominations of coins, 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c, were issued from 1976 to 1978, but the 1978 issue was a proof only issue. There was also a silver $30 coin and a gold $100 coin, struck only in proof. First Series Value Technical parameters Description Date of first minting Diameter Composition Edge Obverse Reverse 5c 16.5 mm Aluminium Plain Leonard Casley Coat of arms 1976 10c 19.1 mm Copper 20c 22.4 mm Brass 50c 24.9 mm Cupronickel $30 38.1 mm 999‰ silver Reeded $100 25 mm 24 carat gold Plain Silver Jubilee $1 coin In 1977, $1 coins were struck to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. These coins are known as "holey dollars". Coins of the same design were struck again in 1978, without the inscription "Queen's Jubilee". Later series Most coins of later series have specific commemorative topics and are usually made of precious metal. The issuance of coins went on until 1995, and resumed in 2000 with the issue of 25 $100 gold coins to commemorate the 30th anniversary of secession. The minting of coins recommenced in 2007 with 1000 $30 coins in .999 fine gold-plated brass to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of Leonard and Shirley Casley, a $5 nickel-plated zinc alloy "Lest We Forget" coin, and a set depicting the armorial bearings of Casley and his four sons, a $10 coin for Casley and $5 coins for his sons all minted in nickel-plated, zinc alloy. The "Lest We Forget" coin was reissued in 2009. In 2010, the Principality issued a $30 gold- and silver-plated brass coin to mark the 40th anniversary of independence. Following the death of his wife in 2013, Casley authorised a special commemorative coin to celebrate her life. Commemorative coins left|thumb|A 1991 20-dollar coin was part of a series commemorating Operation Desert Storm In the 1970s, Kevin Gale was hired to manage the marketing of Principality coins and stamps. In 1995 Gale died and it was found that in addition to promoting Principality coins and stamps, he had registered "Hutt River Province" as the name of a Queensland company of which he was sole owner and from which no profits were forwarded to the Principality. From 1984 to 1989, Johnson Matthey Refining, Rochester, New York, a manufacturer of precious metal products, manufactured limited numbers of commemorative coins for Mel Wacks, who had been appointed exclusive American distributor by Leonard Casley. In 1989, production was transferred to the Continental Coin Company (in California). From 1989 to 1995, the mint produced various themed commemorative Hutt River Province coins which were sold on the US market. Although the total number of coins minted is unknown, it is known that 10,000 $20 coins were minted in 1991 to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Up to 200 different commemorative coins in three denominations each ($5, $10 and $20) are believed to have been minted to commemorate Desert Storm, World War II, The Fathers of Baseball, etc. Prince Leonard authorized all these coins and received samples as well as royalties. All of these Principality coins are contained in the standard catalogue of Unusual World Coins by Colin Bruce II, edited by Tom Michael and George Cuhaj. A$100 denomination proof commemorative coin issue that contained 1 troy ounce of pure palladium sold for $299 in 1989; the 2012 value of the palladium content was $630.Ed Rochette One-man nation strikes again Chicago Sun-Times 19 November 1989 HighBeam Research accessed 14 June 2012Palladium prices Live Palladium prices in AUD per ounce. References Footnotes Sources "Mini-states Down Under are sure they can secede" by Nick Squires, The Daily Telegraph, 24 February 2005 "If at first you don't secede…" by Mark Dapin, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 February 2005, pp. 47–50 "Unusual World Coins", by Colin R. Bruce, Krause Publications, 2005, 0-87349-793-7, p. 240 This 46-year-old Australian micronation has finally been recognised by Buckingham Palace External links Principality of Hutt River official website "Eternity" exhibition, National Museum of Australia "Prince Leonard", ABC TV transcript, 2003 Cabinet Magazine article on Hutt River Principality