An official commemorative issue, the stamp has a face value of two dollars. The cachet was postmarked with the first day of issue cancallation at Rarotonga, capital city of the Cook Islands. The offical cancellation includes a design depicting the impresive dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, site of the Royal wedding.

The coins included in denomination from the one cent to the one dollar. They were struck with a full Proof finish by the Franklin Mint, and each coin was edgemarked ~ for this occasion only ~ with the words The Royal Wedding*29 July 1981.

The coins bear original designs reflecting the natural riches and Polynesian heritage of the Cook Islands. The one~dollar coin, for example, portrays the ancient god Tangaroa and carries 15 stars representing the 15 Cook Islands. The bonito, a game fish that is also commercially valuable, is shown on the fifty~cent piece. And the magnificent Pacific triton seashell, used by Cook Islanders in the past for religious rites. Appears on the twenty~cent coin. Oranges in a cluster of ten leaves are depicted on the ten~cent piece. A variety of hibiscus with five petals appears on the five~cent coin, two pineapples are shown on the two~cent coin and the one~cent coin depicts a single leaf of the taro plant.

Each of these designs was created by the eminent artist and sculptor James Berry, who was named Officer, Order of the British Empire, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his distinguished service in the field of coin design.

The obverses of all seven coins bear the official sculptured portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, indicating the status of the Cook Islands as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The cachet under the commemorative stamp in the upper right hand corner reads: RAROTONGA 29 JUL 81 COOK ISLANDS ~ FIRST DAY OF ISSUE

~ Certificate Of Authenticity ~

The government of the Cook Islands hereby certifies that this cover contains an Official Commemorative Proof Set of seven coins, specially edgemarked to honor the Royal Wedding of H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, and that it also bears a stamp issued expressly to celebrate the Royal Wedding. It is further certified that this cover was postmarked in the Capital city of Rarotonga and bears the date 29 July, 1981, the day of the wedding and the First Day Of Issue for both the coins and the stamp. The postmark includes a specially designed cancellation reserved exclusively for this day.

Certified THOMAS DAVIS Sir Thomas R.A.H. Davis, K.B.E. Prime minister of the Cook Islands