The Cayman Islands is a self-governing British Overseas Territory, the largest by population, in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory has its own currency, the Cayman Islands Dollar, in which the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) issues a variety of circulating coins and banknotes.
The government also authorises some foreign mints to strike commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction, for collector's purposes or for investment. Many of these are in standard bullion sizes, including one ounce (1oz) of gold.
This coin is part of the Cayman Islands Marlin series of premium bullion coins by the Scottsdale Mint.
It depicts a marlin, highlighting the fame of the Cayman Islands as a fishing paradise. Marlins are fish from the family Istiophoridae, which includes about 10 species. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long, rigid dorsal fin which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike. Marlins are among the fastest marine swimmers, reaching up to 110 km/h in short bursts. The larger species include the Atlantic blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, which can reach 5 m in length and 820 kg in weight and the black marlin, Istiompax indica, which can reach in excess of 5 m in length and 670 kg in weight. They are popular sporting fish in tropical areas. |
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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.
Around the rim, the monarch's legend, the face value and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II · CAYMAN ISLANDS · 5 DOLLARS 2021.
The background of the centre has a wave-like surface. The rim is wide, and its background is patterned with thin wavy lines. |
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| Reverse | |
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Within a centre surrounded by a rope, the reverse design depicts a marlin fish breaching the water.
In a circle above, the Queen's cypher: E II R (for Elizabeth II Regina - Elizabeth the Second, Queen), crowned with the Crown of Saint Edward.
Around below left in the rim, the inscription 2021 MARLIN; around below right, the metal content 1 OZ .9999 GOLD (one troy ounce of 99.99% gold). |
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