This 1 Rupee token, issued in 1968 for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, forms part of a scarce series of plastic emergency or merchant tokens. Produced in bright, durable plastic, the set ranged from 5 to 100 Rupees, each showing a palm tree on a small island—symbolising the Cocos’ long-standing coconut industry. Their exact function remains uncertain, though evidence suggests local use in trade or as substitutes for small change.

Issued just two years after Australia’s switch to decimal currency, these tokens highlight the islands’ semi-independent economic status at the time. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands were then under Australian administration but still retained local systems influenced by the Clunies-Ross family, who ruled the islands for more than a century. With a population of only a few hundred, few tokens were ever produced, and even fewer survive today. Their vibrant design and historical context make them a fascinating relic of remote island commerce.