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Sunday, 26 January 2020

1217) The "Pilgrim Voyage of the Mayflower", British Virgin Islands, a British Overseas Territory (BOT): 400th Anniversary (1620-2020): A $1 Silver Bullion Coin minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of the British Virgin Islands: Year of issue: 2020:

1217) The "Pilgrim Voyage of the Mayflower", British Virgin Islands, a British Overseas Territory (BOT) : 400th Anniversary (1620-2020): A $1 Silver Bullion Coin minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of the British Virgin Islands: Year of issue: 2020:

The banner shows the Obverse and Reverse of the $1 Silver Coin, placed against a background image of a landing party of the Pilgrims from the Mayflower on the New World shores (at left) and the Mayflowers anchored in the harbour at right


About the Mayflower & the Pilgrim Fathers:


The Mayflower was a square-rigged Dutch Cargo type Fluyt with a beak head bow and high structures fore and aft, which protected the crew and the main deck from the natural elements.


Her stern carried a 30-foot high, square aft-castle which made the ship extremely difficult to sail against the strong winds. As a result, the Mayflower's voyage from Plymouth, England to America, under the command of Captain Christopher Jones, took more than two months to complete. The Mayflower's return trip to England took less than half that time, with the same strong winds now blowing in the direction of the voyage.

In 1620, the Mayflower carried the first English Puritans (known presently as the "Pilgrims") from Plymouth, England to the New World. There were about 102 passengers and 36 crew and 12 officers on board.

According to the passenger list, just over a third of the passengers were "Puritan Separatists", who sought to break away from the established Church of England and create a society along the lines of their religious ideals.

Others were hired hands, servants or farmers recruited by London merchants, all originally destined for the Colony of Virginia. Four of them were small children given into the care of the Mayflower pilgrims as "indentured servants" (the Virginia Company had begun transportation of children in 1618). At that time, children were routinely rounded up from the streets of London or taken from poor families receiving church relief to be used as labourers in the colonies. Any legal objections to the involuntary transportation of the children was over-ridden by the Privy Council. It was also found out that four more children were sent to America, because they were illegitimate. Three of these children died in the first winter in the New World.


The ship has become somewhat of a cultural icon in the history of the United States of America and influenced the future of the USA inways they could have never imagined.

 The Pilgrims signed the "Mayflower Compact" prior to leaving the ship and establishing "Plymouth Colony" - a document which established a rudimentary form of democracy with each member contributing to the welfare of the community. 

Aboard the "Mayflower" were many stores that supplied the pilgrims with the essentials needed for their journey and future lives including - tools and weapons, cannon, shot, gunpowder, live animals (dogs, sheep, goats and poultry. Horses and cattle came in later voyages. The ship also carried two boats - a long boat and a "shallop", a 21 foot boat powered by oars or sails. She also carried 12 artillery pieces, as the Pilgrims feared that they may need to defend themselves against enemy European forces, as well as Native Americans.

There was a second ship, which too, was named "Mayflower" which made the London to Plymouth, Massachusetts voyage several times ferrying more settlers to the New World. It made several successful voyages (1633, 1634 and 1639), but was lost at sea while attempting a voyage with 140 passengers bound for Virginia in 1641

Upon Arrival in America:

On 09.11.1620, the Pilgrims sighted present-day Cape Cod and spent several days trying to sail South to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, where they had obtained permission to settle from the Company of Merchant Adventurers.

However, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbour at Cape Cad, in what is present day Provincetown Harbour, in an attempt to establish some semblance of order and to suppress increasing strife among their ranks. 

On 27.11.1620, an exploring expedition of 24 passengers and 10 sailors left in the open shallop for a reconnaissance mission to the shore, but were forced to spend the night on shore due to bad weather and below-freezing temperatures, for which they were ill-prepared.

The settlers discovered some Native American provisions including corn and graves. Some accounts state that they looted the corn and desecrated the graves, sparking friction with the locals, but on later contact, they made peace with the Native Americans.

During the first winter, the passengers remained on board the Mayflower, suffering an outbreak of contagious diseases - scurvy, pneumonia and tuberculosis. When the outbreak ended, only 53 passengers and a little over half the crew members remained alive - having lost the boatswain, gunner, three quarter-masters, the cook and more than a dozen sailors.

In the spring, the passengers built huts on the shore
and disembarked from the Mayflower on 21.03.1621.

Their armament - six iron cannons ranging between four and eight feet in length and weighing almost half a ton, capable of hurling iron balls 3.5 inches in diameter as far as 1,700 yards - was brought from the ship under the supervision of Captain Christopher Jones, which were placed on a hill overlooking the settlement. This action made their "ramshackle village" turn into a well-defended fortress.

Jones had originally planned to return to England as soon as the Pilgrims found a settlement site. However, his crew began to be ravaged by the same diseases that were killing the Pilgrims, as such, he remained in New Plymouth Harbour till they recovered. The Mayflower lay in New Plymouth Harbour through the winter of 1620-21, then set sail for England on 05.04.1621, her empty hold ballasted with stones from the Plymouth Harbour shore. 



The Commemorative $1 Coin minted by Pobjoy Mint on behalf of the British Virgin Islands:

The Reverse of the $1 Silver Bullion Coin depicts the Mayflower ship with a reverse frosted effect on the coin. 

On the upper periphery is the inscription "THE MAYFLOWER", while on the lower periphery is inscribed - "1620-2020" (indicating the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage to the New world). Also inscribed on the lower periphery is the metal composition and weight of the coin - "Ag 999 1 Oz".

The Obverse of the $1 Silver Bullion Coin features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, which is an exclusive design of the Pobjoy Mint, whose initials "PM" appear below the Queen's neck.

The specifications of this coin are:

Metal Composition: Reverse Frosted 999 Silver Bullion (Ag); Diameter/Size: 38.60 mm; Weight: 31.103 grams or 1 Oz; Issue limit: 10,000 pieces; Minted by: Pobjoy Mint, UK; On Behalf Of: British Virgin Islands; Year of issue: 2020.












Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:
Central Bank of Ireland issues:


1) Jonathan Swift: 350th Birth Anniversary 15 Euro Silver Proof coin features his most famous work "Gulliver's Travels" : Coin issued on 30.11.2017

2) Ireland: Women's right to Vote - 100th Year Anniversary : A Silver 15 Euro Proof Collector Coin issued by the Central Bank of Ireland on 27.11.2018

3) Irish Myths & Legends: 1) The Children of Lir;2) Cu Chulain; 3) The Omniscient Salmon of Knowledge; 4) Werewolves of Ossory; 5) The Brown Bull of Cooley and Deirdre of the Sorrows: An Annual Mint Set from the Central Bank of Ireland, recreates/celebrates Irish Folk Tales (Issue date: 30.04.2018)

4) Centenary of the "First Trans-Atlantic Aviation", Ireland: A 15 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the central Bank of Ireland and minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue date: 10.07.2019

Northern Ireland Bank issues:

1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21





Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote

Banknotes from Royal Bank of Scotland:



British Crown Dependencies/Overseas Territories:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda


11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint

13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence

14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin 


15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017 

19) The Isle of Man: A British Crown Dependency (BCD) Coinage: A newly introduced Collector's circulation Currency Coinage Collector's set received from the Tower Mint, London, UK issued in April 2017

20) Pegasus: British Virgin Islands: A gold Bullion Coin of $100 issued by Pobjoy Mint on belalf of British Virgin Islands in July 2018

21) "The Hydra": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Third Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 07.08.2018

22) "Medusa The Gorgon": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Fourth Coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint UK on behalf of BIOT in 09/2018



25) South Atlantic Fauna Coins from Ascension Island and South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, British Overseas Territories (BOT): (Part II): A 1 Pound Titanium Coin & a 1 Pound Uncirculated Coin variant, feature the Queen Triggerfish, issued on behalf of Ascension Island (2019) minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK

26) Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic Explorer: South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands: A 2 Pounds Coin minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK, brought out on 26.02.2019 on behalf of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands in two variants - Silver and Cupro-nickel

27) Concorde, a Stamp set from Gibraltar, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date: 20.04.2019

28) Tristan da Cunha (BOT): A Wedgwood "Three Graces" Jasperware 5 Pound Coin: minted in 2018

29) 75th Anniversary of D-Day Landings: (The Battle of Normandy): i) A Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau Stamp set of 4 stamps issued on 08.03.2019: ii) A Limited edition D-Day joint Commemorative issue by British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territory - Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar on 06.06.2019

30) Manannan, the First King of Isle of Man or Mann: A Silver 5 Pounds Coin brought out by the Isle of Man in collaboration with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich

31) 200th Anniversary of John Keats' "Odes to a ....", Alderney Island: A set of six Postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post which brings out stamps on behalf of Alderney Island - 1) Ode on a Grecian Urn,(48p) 2) Ode on Indolence (65p), 3) Ode on Melancholy (66p), 4) Ode to a Nightingale (80p), 5) Ode to Psyche (90p), 6) Ode to Autumn (98 p): Stamp Set issue date: 24.07.2019

32) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019

33) "Tatty Teddy" - "Me to You" Bears: Isle of Man Post Office is marketing a special edition of 200 Bears dressed as Santa along-with Tatty Teddy's own stamp and special envelope post-marked "21.11.2019"


35) "Video Games" - Great Britain: A set of 8 Postage stamps brought out by the Royal Mail U.K. featuring Elite (1984), Dizzy (1987), Populous (1989), Lemmings (1991), Micro Machines (1991), Sensible Soccer (1992), Wipeout (1995), Worms (1995) and 2 Miniature Sheets on "Tomb Raider - Lara Croft": Date of Stamp set issue : 21.01.2020

36) Royal Mint, United Kingdom (UK): Five new Commemorative Coins to be issued this year (2020) include the: 1) "Bicentenary of the death of King George III", 2) Tokyo Olympics, 3) "Voyage of the Mayflower", 4) "Victory in Europe Day - 75th Anniversary, 5) Agatha Christie's First novel - The Mysterious Affair at Styles":

37) 250th Birth Anniversary of Beethoven: A Commemorative Postage stamp of 1 Pound issued by Guernsey Post, a British Crown Dependency (DCD): Stamp issue date: 21.01.2020


Famous Battles
1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 
2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:



British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "Segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:


2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin


4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone




 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)


5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his " Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 



Links: Postage Stamps: 

12) Owls: A set of 10 Stamps depicting five Owls - Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), Short eared Owl (Asio flammeus) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) issued by the Royal Mail Uk on 11.05.2018

13) Reintroduced Species: A set of six stamps issued by the Royal Mail, UK depicting UK's successfully restored wildlife including the Osprey, Eurasian Beaver, Pool Frog, Sand Lizard, Large Blue Butterfly and Stinking Hawk's-beard species on 17.04.2018

14) World Post Day Limited Edition of 500 Commemorative Covers, Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory (BOT): Special Cover issue date:n 09.10.2019

15) Forests, Royal Mail, U.K.: Centenary of the Forestry Commission (1919-2019): A set of six stamps issued by the Royal Mail, UK depicting six well-known forests across the U.K. - i) Glen Affric Inverness-shire, Scotland; ii) Westonbirt Gloucestershire, England; iii) Sherwood Forest; iv) Coed y Brenin Gwynedd, Wales; v) Glenriff Forest Country Antrim, Northern Ireland; vi) Kielder Forest Northumberland, England: Stamp set issue date:13.08.2019




17) 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentenary) of The Royal Philatelic Society London: A Limited Edition Commemorative Cover (500 Editions) brought outby the Gibraltar Post on 21.10.2019

18) "The Christmas story", Alderney, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): Alderney Post in association with Guernsey Post has issued this set of seven stamps, designs for which have been made through paper-cutting art: Date of issue: 30.10.2019






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