Carrying on the fantasy ship theme from yesterdays eight-coin set, Numiscollect have launched the third in its Ghost Ship series. First appearing back in 2013, Numiscollect skipped the following year but have settled on an annual release schedule since. Famous ghost ship The Mary Celeste was the first featured vessel, followed in 2015 with the less well known Lady Lovibond, a schooner allegedly wrecked off the Kent coast in 1748. Next up is one of the most recognisable names in ghost ship lore, the Flying Dutchmen.

Starting with the obverse, it carries on the series tradition of being issued for a different state. The first coin was issued for Niue Island, the second for Tokelau, and this one for the Cook Islands. This could go on for some time given how many of the island states are used to issue commemorative coins, like Fiji, Tuvalu and Palau being obvious candidates. To date, all are Commonwealth countries, so feature the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

The reverse face stays with the struck representation of an ornate porthole, through which a coloured image of the ship in question is depicted. The border on these has always been well done and hasn’t diminished as time has passed. The picture of the Flying Dutchmen is also a fine one, very atmospheric and scene setting. Struck in 20g of sterling (0.925) silver, antique-finished, and 38.61mm in diameter, the coin comes boxed, in a shipper, and with a Certificate of Authenticity. A very nice design, it will ship in the late October/early November period.

Designed in such a way that you look through the ships window towards the ship. A unique design and a ship motive that always sells.

The Flying Dutchman (Dutch: De Vliegende Hollander) is a legendary ghost ship that can never make port and is doomed to sail the oceans forever. The myth is likely to have originated from 17th-century nautical folklore. The oldest extant version dates to the late 18th century. Sightings in the 19th and 20th centuries reported the ship to be glowing with ghostly light. If hailed by another ship, the crew of the Flying Dutchman will try to send messages to land, or to people long dead. In ocean lore, the sight of this phantom ship is a portent of doom.