Mint21 Week: Shipwrecks in History debuts with the incredible pirate ship discovery of the Whydah Gally

Another of our favourite coin producers, Mint 21, is launching six new coins and we thought it would be good to have a quick look at them over this week. While Mint 21 uses coin formats that are quite popular these days, they do so with a unique style of their own – a change from the (admittedly superb) visual style used by CIT and the Mint of Poland, amongst others. Case in point is one of our highlights of 2019, the Spartan Hoplite coin.

First of the six coins to be showcased here is the debut issue in their new ‘Shipwrecks in History’ series. Given the millions of wrecks littered around the world, in some cases dating back millennia, it’s an inspired choice of subject, as is the selection of the world’s oldest confirmed pirate shipwreck – The Whydah Gally. Wrecked off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the remains were discovered in 1984 and have become a fascinating treasure trove of artifacts unlike any other. She was destroyed on 26 April 1717, not by another ship, but by that great equaliser – the weather.

The coin depicts the full-rigged ex-slaver ship under part sail, in full colour, and limited to a faux ‘window’ that takes up around half of the reverse face in surface area. The beauty of this coin lies in the detail around it. The bottom area, angled to one side, is replete with pirate-themed imagery, all struck to high relief. A decorated skull, undersea flora and fauna, a cutlass, and a fine looking flintlock pistol are all packed into this space. Plenty of depth and detail, it does a great job of evoking the popular view of the early 18th century pirate.

The obverse features a ships wheel across a n old navigational map as a back drop for the effigy of QEII, and is also antique finished. All in all, a fine debut for an interesting series. Presented in a wooden box with a C.O.A., this 2oz fine silver coin is available to pre-order now.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

This 2 oz silver coin starts a new series about grand shipwrecks in history and their treasures. A wonderful imprint on the background features a luxurious Whydah Gally, encircled by a ring of floral ornaments. The place of the shipwreck with treasures on the seabed has been reproduced in 1.5 mm relief on the foreground.

During its maiden voyage, the Whydah Gally was hijacked by Samuel Bellamy or “Black Sam”. In 1717, the ship fully drowned in storm near Cape Code taking the lives of 144 people and burying tons of gold, silver and jewelry. It was found in 1984, and among the findings a well-preserved bell helped to identify the remains of the Whydah Gally