Keeling Cocos Islands “Plastic Ivory” Tokens
The Keeling-Cocos Islands were 27 coral islands situated in the Indian Ocean located 1,300 miles northwest of Australia. They were discovered by Captain William Keeling of the British East India Company in 1609. A settlement was established on Direction Island by English adventurer, Alexander Hare and Captain John Clunes Ross for the purpose of storing East Indian spices for reshipment to Europe. When the venture failed, Hare left the island and Clunies Ross became its sole owner. The island began exporting coconut products, calcium and phosphate. The coral group became a British protectorate in 1856, was attached to the…
