Scottsdale Mint’s Eastern Caribbean 8 bullion coin program rounds out its 2021 with St. Kitts, and St. Lucia

Finally wrapping up, the 2021 Eastern Caribbean 8 program of eight issues has debuted the last two designs today, for St. Lucia, and for St. Kitts & Nevis. This is the fourth run through the nations that are covered by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, mainly because they’re often of a size that makes having their own, difficult (Anguilla has around 10k inhabitants, for example).

This has always been an attractive and highly varied series, and Scottsdale Mint has done a top job capturing the essence of these island nations, which differ in personality and appearance more than you might imagine. The latest pair is on safe ground as far as the choice of subjects go. Shipwrecks and exotic flora are popular associations with the region, and both coins are nice enough.

The usual four one-ounce versions of each design are rolled out again. Cleanly struck bullion variants in gold or silver are the popular choice, no doubt, and there are also proof, coloured variants for the numismatist, which come boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity. All variants should be available to order now, with shipping starting in 3-4 weeks time. We’ve been following this series since it started, and created a comprehensive Bullion Coin Profile, so feel free to take a look at all the 32 designs released to date, each in all of its four variants, spread across four pages. Hopefully, the programme will return in 2022, as it’s refreshingly different from almost everything else out there.

ST KITTS & NEVIS SUNKEN SHIP

With a rich naval history, especially for pirate ships, the Caribbean is home to hundreds of shipwrecks, and the waters around St Kitts and Nevis are no exception. While the coin depicts a wrecked galleon on the seabed, most of the popular dive sites in the area now are from more modern shipwrecks, often the result of going down in one of the many hurricanes that plague the region.

ST. LUCIA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Home to the Diamond Waterfall, and located in the SW of the island in a town called Soufrière, the St Lucia Botanical Gardens are the oldest on the island. Also called the Diamond Botanical Gardens, it covers an area of around six acres, and holds a lush selection of local flora, and sulphur springs. The springs were formed approximately 40,000 years ago, and are weakened parts of an old collapsed crater of huge dimensions. Bathing in them has been said to be therapeutic for almost 250 years.

The coin holds an image of Etlingera elatior, more commonly known as the Torch Ginger, or the Ginger Flower. An attractive flower, it’s actually considered to be an invasive species in many places, due to being transported widely for decorative purposes. It’s a popular ingredient in fish dishes and for making chilli throughout SE Asia.

WHERE TO BUY

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $2 East Caribbean $2 East Caribbean $10 East Caribbean $10 East Caribbean
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 0.999 silver 0.9999 gold 0.9999 gold
WEIGHT 31.1 grams 31.1 grams 31.1 grams 31.1 grams
DIAMETER 38.6 mm 38.6 mm 38.6 mm 38.6 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated Proof Brilliant uncirculated Proof
MODIFICATIONS None Colour None Colour
MINTAGE 25,000 500 2,500 100
BOX / C.O.A. No / No Yes / Yes Certi-Lock Yes / Yes
SCOTTSDALE MINT