British Indian Ocean Territory
 

 
                      1512  Possibly discovered by Pedro de Mascarenhas and claimed
                             for Portugal, not occupied (Diego Garcia named Ilha de Dom
                             Garcia).
                      1559  Name Diego Garcia first used on a map created by Edward
                             Wright.
               23 Sep 1721  Claimed for France as part of Mauritius.
                  Jan 1745  First recorded landing on Diego Garcia by the British ship
                             Pelham.
                      1768  French Capt. Dufresne lands on Diego Garcia.
                      1785  First French settlements begin on Diego Garcia.
               27 Apr 1786  Chagos Islands and Diego Garcia claimed for Britain
                      1786  Formally annexed by France.
               17 May 1810  Part of British colony of Seychelles.
               30 May 1814  British possession confirmed by the Treaty of Paris, part of
                             Seychelles (Oil Islands).
               31 Aug 1903  Chagos Archipelago separated from Seychelles and attached to
                             Mauritius.
               08 Nov 1965  British Indian Ocean Territory established from parts of the
                             Seychelles and Mauritius (Chagos Archipelago, [including
                             Diego Garcia], Aldabra Islands, Farquhar and the Des Roches
                             Islands).
               17 Jul 1966  British evacuation of native islanders beings (completed in
                             1973).
               30 Dec 1966  British-U.S. base leasing agreement for Diego Garcia (U.S.
                             Naval Communications Station Diego Garcia commissioned
                             20 Mar 1973).
               03 Apr 1967  Britain buys all the plantations on the islands.
               29 Jun 1976  Aldabra, Farquhar and Des Roches Islands returned to
                             independent Seychelles.
               01 Oct 1977  U.S. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia opened.
               02 Nov 2000  British High Court overturns 1971 immigration ban;
               11 Jun 2004  BIOT law overturns 2000 court ruling on 11 May 2006 the Court
                             overturns the 2004 law; on 22 Oct 2008 the British House of
                             Lords votes to support the government decision denying the
                             islanders return.
 
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia. The territory comprises the six atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands (many tiny) having a total land area of 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi). The largest island is Diego Garcia (area 44 km2), the site of a joint military facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. The territory is an archipelago of 55 islands, the largest being Diego Garcia, accounting for almost three-quarters of the total land area of the territory. Capital: Diego Garcia.

As a territory of the United Kingdom, the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. There is no Governor appointed to represent the Queen on the territory, as there are no longer any native inhabitants. The head of government is the Commissioner. The laws of the territory are based on the constitution, set out in the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004, which gives the Commissioner full powers to make laws for the Territory.
Applicable treaties between the United Kingdom and the United States govern the use of the military base. The United States is required to ask permission of the United Kingdom to use the base for offensive military action.
 
Currency: Postage stamps have been issued for British Indian Ocean Territory since 17 January 1968. Since the territory was originally part of the Seychelles, these stamps were denominated in rupees until 1992. However, after 1992 they became denominated in pounds sterling which is the official currency of the territory. The first commemorative coin of two Pounds were issued on 2009.
 

2 Pounds. Year: 2009. Weight: 28.40g. Metal: Copper-Nickel. Diameter: 38.60 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Pobjoy Mint. Obverse: Elizabeth II - 2009 - British Indian Ocean Territory. Reverse: First Commemorative Coin of the British Indian Ocean Territory - National Arms. Mintage: N/A. Minted Years: One year type. Ruler: Elizabeth II [Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor].
 
 
 
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