Coin | Gold Ounce 2020 Rum Runner |
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Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign island country in the Caribbean which uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) as its currency; it is the common currency of six independent states and two British Overseas Territories. The EC$ has both common and national issues. All common circulating coins are issued under the authority of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and have no issuing country specified on them. Separately, each member country can also strike coins bearing its national symbols; these coins are legal tender in all members states, and are usually commemorative or bullion not intended for general circulation. Most of the member states are also members of the (British) Commonwealth of Nations and share the same monarch with the United Kingdom, so that the effigy of the monarch is displayed on the coins and banknotes of the currency.
Antigua and Barbuda has authorised some foreign mints to strike coins under its issuing authority for collector's purposes. Some of these are in popular bullion formats, such as one troy ounce (1 oz) of gold.
This coin is part of the Eastern Caribbean 8 (EC8) series of premium bullion coins by the Scottsdale Mint, which has a new annual design for each country of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The 2020 edition for Antigua and Barbuda features the "Rum Runner".
The Mint says about it: Throughout the Caribbean's 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 of the move helping to keep the pirates of the Caribbean at bay. Pirates often made extra money running rum to heavily taxed colonies in North American and the West Indies. As early as the 16th century, the British government employed "Revenue Cutters", small lightweight single-sail vessels to stop the pirates and smugglers. |
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Obverse | |
The obverse of the coins shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
Normally, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley) are below the portrait when it is used; however, they are not displayed here.
The effigy is surrounded by a laurel wreath. The central circle has a frosted finish.
In the rim, within a plain border, around above the name of the issuing authority: EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK. Around below, the legend of the monarch, QUEEN ELIZABETH II.
Facing outward, around below left the precious metal content of the coin: 1 OZ .9999 GOLD (one troy ounce of 99.99% gold); around below right, the face value TEN DOLLARS. |
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Reverse | |
The reverse design of the coin depicts an 18th century pirate ship (flying a skull and bones flag) heading out to sea after picking up some of the finest rum in the world from Antigua and Barbuda.
Around above, the name of the country: ANTIGUA & BARBUDA. On the right, the date of issue 2020. |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated, proof-like. Packaging: in serialised Certi-Lock packaging (assay card). |
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See also |
Coins issued in the Eastern Caribbean 8 (EC8) series in 2020 include: - Anguilla, 1 oz Gold, Coat of Arms of Anguilla, 2020 - Anguilla, 1 oz Silver, Coat of Arms of Anguilla, 2020 - Antigua and Barbuda, 1 oz Gold, Rum Runner, 2020 - Antigua and Barbuda, 1 oz Silver, Rum Runner, 2020 - Dominica, 1 oz Gold, Hummingbird, 2020 - Dominica, 1 oz Silver, Hummingbird, 2020 - Grenada, 1 oz Gold, Caribbean Reef Octopus, 2020 - Grenada, 1 oz Silver, Caribbean Reef Octopus, 2020 - Montserrat, 1 oz Gold, Montserrat Oriole, 2020 - Montserrat, 1 oz Silver, Montserrat Oriole, 2020 - Saint Kitts and Nevis, 1 oz Gold, Siege of Brimstone Hill, 2020 - Saint Kitts and Nevis, 1 oz Silver, Siege of Brimstone Hill, 2020 - Saint Lucia, 1 oz Gold, Whiptail Lizard, 2020 - Saint Lucia, 1 oz Silver, Whiptail Lizard, 2020 - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1 oz Gold, Pax et Justitia, 2020 - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1 oz Silver, Pax et Justitia, 2020
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