826) "Rum Runner", Antigua & Barbuda: First coin out of 8 to be issued in the "Eastern Caribbean Gold & Silver Bullion and Commemorative Coin Programme" ("EC8 Coin Programme") - all coins to be released during 2018:
Gold Bullion Coins (10 Dollars) and Silver Bullion Coins (2 Dollars):
Scottsdale Mint in collaboration with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has initiated for the first time, a Gold and Silver Bullion and Commemorative Coin programme titled - the "EC8". (Scottsdale Mint has earlier brought out popular coins like the "Cayman Islands Marlin" and "Hokusai" and "The Great Wave").
The "EC8" Coin Programme will consist of four coins minted in 2018 on behalf of each of the eight Caribbean Island Members (CIM) that comprise the ECCB -Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.
Some of these nations have never had a gold or silver bullion coin issued for them, but the present series will have a unique design for each country being released/issued throughout the year.
Some of these nations have never had a gold or silver bullion coin issued for them, but the present series will have a unique design for each country being released/issued throughout the year.
The ECCB is the official issuer of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar - the currency of the "EC8 2018 Coin Programme".
All these coins are legal tender in the territories of all 8 members that comprise the ECCB.
The First Coin issue features the "Rum Runner" Gold, Silver and gold coloured commemorative and Silver colour Commemorative coins:
History of the Caribbean Rum Runners:
Throughout the Caribbean colonial period, competition for rum sales and for the security that armed ships brought with them was fierce among the English Caribbean planters.
The Caribbean island governors supported selling rum to the Royal Navy in hopes that such a move on their part would help in getting the support of the Royal Navy ships in keeping the Pirates of the Caribbean at bay.
Pirates often made extra money, running rum to heavily taxed colonies in North America and the west Indies. As early as the 16th Century AD, the British government employed "Revenue cutters", which were small light-weight vessels to stop the pirates and smugglers.
Antigua and Barbuda are two Caribbean islands that form a country that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean. Both islands have a rich history of producing some of the world's finest rums.
Antigua's history of rum production dates back to the early 1700s when sugar was first introduced to the island and quickly became the main crops on its plantations.
Sugarcane by-products, such as molasses, honey, sugarcane juice are the primary ingredients in the production of rum by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, as a clear liquid, is then aged in oak barrels, thus aiding in the creation of the Caribbean's world-wide sought after rum.
History of the Caribbean Rum Runners:
Throughout the Caribbean colonial period, competition for rum sales and for the security that armed ships brought with them was fierce among the English Caribbean planters.
The Caribbean island governors supported selling rum to the Royal Navy in hopes that such a move on their part would help in getting the support of the Royal Navy ships in keeping the Pirates of the Caribbean at bay.
Pirates often made extra money, running rum to heavily taxed colonies in North America and the west Indies. As early as the 16th Century AD, the British government employed "Revenue cutters", which were small light-weight vessels to stop the pirates and smugglers.
Antigua and Barbuda are two Caribbean islands that form a country that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean. Both islands have a rich history of producing some of the world's finest rums.
Antigua's history of rum production dates back to the early 1700s when sugar was first introduced to the island and quickly became the main crops on its plantations.
Sugarcane by-products, such as molasses, honey, sugarcane juice are the primary ingredients in the production of rum by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, as a clear liquid, is then aged in oak barrels, thus aiding in the creation of the Caribbean's world-wide sought after rum.
The Reverse of a Rum Runner coloured Silver Coin is shown against the backdrop of a pirate ship on the Caribbean "Running Rum", being chased by the British Navy "Revenue Cutters"
A painting of a Pirate ship at full sail on the High Seas, by Anoop Banerjee (Anupda) hunting for "Rum Runners". Adds Anupda " This is a painting I did some years ago of the Man-O-War ships used by Jack Morgan to attack and loot the ships carrying rum & gold from the Caribbean colonies to England".
The Reverse of the 10 Dollars Gold Bullion Coin
The Reverse of the 10 Dollars Gold Bullion Coloured Coin
The Reverse on both the coins depicts an 18th Century Pirate Ship heading out to sea after a pickup of some of the finest rum in the world from Antigua & Barbuda.
Also seen on the coin's Reverse to the right is a consignment of Oak Barrels containing aging rum, waiting on the beach to get shipped, with an empty rum bottle lying by their side.
The inscriptions are - "ANTIGUA & BARBUDA" and "2018".
The Reverse on both the coins depicts an 18th Century Pirate Ship heading out to sea after a pickup of some of the finest rum in the world from Antigua & Barbuda.
Also seen on the coin's Reverse to the right is a consignment of Oak Barrels containing aging rum, waiting on the beach to get shipped, with an empty rum bottle lying by their side.
The inscriptions are - "ANTIGUA & BARBUDA" and "2018".
On the Obverse of the 10 Dollars Gold Bullion Coin is seen an image of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK", "10 DOLLARS", "1 Oz .9999 GOLD", 'QUEEN ELIZABETH II".
The specifications of the 10 Dollars Gold Coin are:
Theme: Rum Runner; Country of Origin: Antigua & Barbuda; Denominational value: 10 Dollars; Mint: Scottsdale; Diameter/Size: 38.6 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Mintage: Proof - 500 pieces, Brilliant Uncirculated - 2,500 pieces; Coin Quality: Proof with selective colouring and Brilliant Uncirculated. Peripheral design: Both Obverse and Reverse rims feature wavy radial lines making the coin harder to duplicate and providing a measure of security.
The Proof Coins (both Gold & Silver issues) are housed in a capsule which is kept in a custom-made box and come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
The Proof Coins (both Gold & Silver issues) are housed in a capsule which is kept in a custom-made box and come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
The Reverse of the 2 Dollars Silver Bullion Coin
The Reverse of both the coins depicts an 18th Century Pirate Ship heading out to sea after a pickup of some of the finest rum in the world from Antigua & Barbuda.
Also seen on the coin's Reverse to the right is a consignment of Oak Barrels, containing aging rum, waiting on the beachto get shipped, with an empty rum bottle lying by their side.
The inscriptions are - "ANTIGUA & BARBUDA" and "2018".
On the Obverse of the 2 Dollars Silver Bullion Coin is seen an image of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK", 2 DOLLARS", "1 Oz. .999 SILVER", "QUEEN ELIZABETH II".
The specifications of the 2 Dollars Silver coin are:
Theme: Rum Runner; Country of Origin: Antigua & Barbuda; Denominational value: 2 Dollars; Mint: Scottsdale; Diameter/Size: 39.0 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1 Oz; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness silver (Ag); Mintage: Proof - 2,500, Brilliant Uncirculated - 25,000 pieces; Coin Quality: Proof with selective colouring and Brilliant Uncirculated; Peripheral Design: Both Obverse and Reverse rims feature wavy radial lines making the coin harder to duplicate and providing a measure of security.
The Proof Coins, both gold and silver are housed in a capsule, which is kept in a custom made box and is accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity(COA).
For some other interesting posts on currencies of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:
The Proof Coins, both gold and silver are housed in a capsule, which is kept in a custom made box and is accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity(COA).
For some other interesting posts on currencies of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:
Anoop Banerjee has commented:
ReplyDelete"Read your blog. Beautifully researched and written".
Thank you so much, Anoopda.
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