Silver Ounce 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean - Henry Avery, Coin from Niue - detailed information

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.

The reverse of the coin shows a coloured artist's impression of the famous pirate Henry Every/Avery, with a parrot on his shoulder. 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, HENRY AVERY.

Henry Every, also known as Henry Avery (born 20 August 1659, died after 1696), sometimes erroneously given as Jack Avery or John Avery, was an English pirate who operated in the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the mid-1690s. Dubbed "The Arch Pirate" and "The King of Pirates" by contemporaries, Every was infamous for being one of few major pirate captains to escape with his loot without being arrested or killed in battle, and for being the perpetrator of what has been called the most profitable act of piracy in history. Although Every's career as a pirate lasted only two years, his exploits captured the public's imagination, inspired others to take up piracy, and spawned works of literature.

Every's most famous raid was on a 25-ship convoy of Grand Mughal vessels making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, including the treasure-laden Ghanjah dhow Ganj-i-sawai and its escort, Fateh Muhammed. Joining forces with several pirate vessels, Every found himself in command of a small pirate squadron, and they were able to capture up to £600,000 in precious metals and jewels, making him the richest pirate in the world.

This caused considerable damage to England's fragile relations with the Mughals, and a combined bounty of £1,000 an immense sum at the time was offered by the Privy Council and the East India Company for his capture, leading to the first worldwide manhunt in recorded history. Every eluded capture, vanishing from all records in 1696; his whereabouts and activities after this period are unknown. Unconfirmed accounts state he may have changed his name and retired, quietly living out the rest of his life in either Britain or on an unidentified tropical island. He is considered to have died anywhere between 1699 and 1714; his treasure has never been recovered.

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.