| Coin | Silver Ounce 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean - Calico Jack |
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Niue, a sovereign state in free association with New Zealand, uses two official legal tender currencies. The New Zealand Dollar is the circulation currency for daily transactions, while the government also authorises legal tender coins in the Niue Dollar currency for collector's purposes.
A number of mints issue a large variety of commemorative, bullion and collector coins under the authority of Niue. These coins are dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to Niue itself. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes - typically, one ounce of silver (abbreviated as 1 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). Many of these feature characters and themes from popular culture.
This coloured silver ounce coin was issued as part of a four-coin themed set, and features the famous pirate Calico Jack.
The Mint says about it:
"Have you ever seen the real Caribbean pirates? Now you’ve got the exceptional possibility to own a set of .999 silver proof coins each bearing the most famous pirates of the Caribbean. Most of the pirates of the classic piracy era (1700-1730s) in the Caribbean were of English, Dutch and French origin.
The obverse of each of the four Niue coins carries the effigy of Her Majesty Elizabeth II surrounded by the inscriptions denoting the Queen’s name, the face value of the silver coin and the name of the issuing country. The year of issue is also indicated at the bottom of the pirate coins.
The reverse design of the silver coins features the colored images of Caribbean pirates Edward Teach or Blackbeard, Calico Jack Rackham, Henry Avery and Bartholomew Roberts. The images are supplemented with two outstanding pirate symbols: two swords and a skull with crossbones.
Piracy was known to flourish in the Caribbean because of the existence of pirate seaports such as Port Royal in Jamaica, Tortuga in Haiti, and Nassau in the Bahamas." |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows at its centre the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a pearl necklace, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait", by Raphael David Maklouf).
The designer's initials are usually incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation when this portrait is used, but they are not displayed here.
Around, the monarch's legend and the face value: ELIZABETH II · NIUE · TWO DOLLARS. Below, the date of issue 2011. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows a coloured artist's impression of the famous pirate Calico Jack, holding two crossed swords; behind him, two female pirates.
On two lines in a ribbon above, the inscription REAL PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Around left and right, two curved swords. Below, under a skull and crossed bones symbol, CALICO JACK RACKHAM.
John Rackham (26 December 1682 - 18 November 1720), commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th century. His nickname was derived from the calico clothing that he wore, while Jack is a nickname for "John". Rackham was active towards the end (1718 - 1720) of the "Golden Age of Piracy" which lasted from 1650 to 1725. He is most remembered for having two female crew members: Mary Read and his lover, Anne Bonny.
Rackham deposed Charles Vane from his position as captain of the sloop Ranger, then cruised the Leeward Islands, Jamaica Channel and Windward Passage. He accepted a pardon in 1719 and moved to New Providence, where he met Anne Bonny, who was married to James Bonny at the time. He returned to piracy in 1720 by stealing a British sloop and Anne joined him. Their new crew included Mary Read, who was disguised as a man at the time. After a short run, Rackham was captured by Royal Navy pirate hunter Jonathan Barnet in 1720, put on trial by Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, and was hanged in November of that year in Port Royal, Jamaica. He is also known for the creation of the Jolly Roger. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
REAL PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN CALICO JACK RACKHAM |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured (pad printing).
Packaging: in four-coin set in wooden "pirate chest", accompanied by a skull and crossbones pendant necklace, with numbered Certificate of Authenticity. |
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| Included in Set |
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Real Pirates of the Caribbean, mintage 8,000
4 coins: 1 oz Silver, Calico Jack, 2011, 1 oz Silver, Blackbeard, 2011, 1 oz Silver, Bartholomew Roberts, 2011, 1 oz Silver, Henry Avery, 2011
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