Pobjoy expands its new British Virgin Islands bullion range with a JFK silver coin

With Isle of Man coins now being handled by Tower Mint and Coin Invest Trust, the British Pobjoy Mint has redirected its talents to another of its many client states, the British Virgin Islands. The first silver bullion fruits of their labours appeared in the form of the Pegasus one-ounce silver coin. Limited to 50,000 items, it was a classically styled design that has seemingly proven popular.

Fast forward to 2017 and they’ve just announced the second of such coins, this time taking the most iconic president in United States history as its inspiration. John F. Kennedy has appeared on a couple of US Mint coins recently and there was a silver coin remembering JFK’s time on PT-109, the torpedo boat he sailed on during the Second World War, struck by the Royal Australian Mint.

Pobjoys new coin is a clean, neat design, depicting JFK in effigy form, much like that of Queen Elizabeth II that adorns the obverse. Both faces carry a similarly styled border that holds all the inscriptions, except for a couple of dates on the reverse face. There’s little to dislike about the reverse face design, the effigy looks a good one. It isn’t as detailed as the US Mints proof effort, but that’s to be expected with a bullion coin. Struck in an ounce of 0.999 silver, the mintage will be limited to 50,000 pieces, which in terms of numbers would place it towards the lower end of the mid-range.

Available to order from 24th April, if the Pegasus is any indicator, the premiums won’t be too excessive on this one. Keep your eye open in case APMEX do a twin set with a reverse proof again, a potentially hot item we think.

2017 JOHN F. KENNEDY SILVER BULLION COIN

MINTS DESCRIPTION

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as ‘JFK’’, was born in May 1917 in Massachusetts and spent the first 10 years of his life in Boston until his family moved to the Bronx where he spent his middle school years. Kennedy later went on to study at the London School of Economics and Harvard University which laid the foundations of his political career. The Kennedy family was a very well established US political family and produced a president, three senators and multiple other politicians.

Kennedy had a distinguished military career from 1941-1945 and served in WW2 and Pacific War. One notable event was when the torpedo boat Kennedy was serving on was sunk. In order to save the crew he had to swim a distance of about three and a half miles at night whilst towing an injured comrade from the wreck to a nearby island! JFK received multiple medals and awards for his service including the Purple Heart making him the only president to receive one.

JFK was the 35th President of the USA and served from January 1961 until his assassination on 22nd November 1963. Despite his relatively short service he was incredibly influential and advocated for freedom home and abroad. Kennedy presided during some very pivotal events including the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Bay of Pigs invasion, the nuclear test ban treaty, the establishment of the Peace Corps, developments in the Space Race, the building of the Berlin Wall, the Trade Expansion Act to lower tariffs, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The assassination of JFK is a topic that breeds much controversy and debate. The official report is that he was shot by lone gunman Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas Texas. The gunman supposedly acted alone as he fired at the President from the 6th story window of a nearby building killing him.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTENARY
DENOMINATION $1 British Virgin Islands
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 31.103 grams
DIAMETER 38.60 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated
MODIFICATIONS None
MINTAGE 50,000
BOX / COA No / No