The Maldives are a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, to the south-southwest of India. Because of pirate activity in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Maldives aligned themselves with Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and in 1887 became a British Protectorate. Traditionally ruled by a sultan, they finally became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Our 100 Rufiyaa coin features the Cutty Sark sailing ship.