Posted 07/25/2023 07:34 am
And now, a coin trip to the Caribbean...
In 2003, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) issued a series of non-circulating commemorative coins to mark the quadricentennial (400th anniversary) of the death of Queen Elizabeth I - Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1553 and died on March 24, 1603. The series included six copper-nickel $1 coins, six 0.925 fine silver $10 coins and six 0.9999 fine gold $100 coins (1/5th troy ounce); the six designs used were repeated across the denominations. One design from the collection featured Sir Walter Raleigh.
The obverse of the coin(s) depicts a right-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II - QEII is related to QEI, though very distantly, as they are each a descendant of King Henry VII. The primary element of the reverse design is a three-quarter, front-facing portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh; his birth and death years (1552 - 1618) are shown to the left (viewer's perspective) of the portrait. In the background is a 16th century sailing ship - possibly the Falcon, a ship Raleigh commanded during an expedition, with his half brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert, to explore and claim lands of eastern North America. (None of the ships in the expedition - including Raleigh's - made its objective, however, and returned to England.)
Raleigh's inclusion in the BVI "Life of Queen Elizabeth I" collection is no doubt a result of his relationship with the Queen. Raleigh was a favorite of Elizabeth I - she thought him handsome and liked his flamboyance; he was even asked to join Elizabeth's court. He lost her favor when he secretly married one of Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton. Raleigh's attempts to hide the marriage earned him a short imprisonment in the Tower of London. (Don't mess with Elizabeth!
)
2003 British Virgin Islands $1 - Pobjoy Mint
The coins were struck by the Pobjoy Mint of the Surrey, United Kingdom.
I have a few more Raleigh pieces, but it would be great to see what others have!
In 2003, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) issued a series of non-circulating commemorative coins to mark the quadricentennial (400th anniversary) of the death of Queen Elizabeth I - Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1553 and died on March 24, 1603. The series included six copper-nickel $1 coins, six 0.925 fine silver $10 coins and six 0.9999 fine gold $100 coins (1/5th troy ounce); the six designs used were repeated across the denominations. One design from the collection featured Sir Walter Raleigh.
The obverse of the coin(s) depicts a right-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II - QEII is related to QEI, though very distantly, as they are each a descendant of King Henry VII. The primary element of the reverse design is a three-quarter, front-facing portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh; his birth and death years (1552 - 1618) are shown to the left (viewer's perspective) of the portrait. In the background is a 16th century sailing ship - possibly the Falcon, a ship Raleigh commanded during an expedition, with his half brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert, to explore and claim lands of eastern North America. (None of the ships in the expedition - including Raleigh's - made its objective, however, and returned to England.)
Raleigh's inclusion in the BVI "Life of Queen Elizabeth I" collection is no doubt a result of his relationship with the Queen. Raleigh was a favorite of Elizabeth I - she thought him handsome and liked his flamboyance; he was even asked to join Elizabeth's court. He lost her favor when he secretly married one of Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton. Raleigh's attempts to hide the marriage earned him a short imprisonment in the Tower of London. (Don't mess with Elizabeth!
)2003 British Virgin Islands $1 - Pobjoy Mint
The coins were struck by the Pobjoy Mint of the Surrey, United Kingdom.
I have a few more Raleigh pieces, but it would be great to see what others have!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
