Scottsdale Mint’s giant ‘EC8’ bullion program continues its 2022 run with the Montserrat Sea Turtle, and the St. Lucia Couple

Scottsdale Mint continues to play catch-up with its 2022 run through its Eastern Caribbean 8 series. Today sees the second pair of designs to be issued, so we’ve hit the half-way mark at last. We suspect all eight designs will have been launched by mid-year, although we’ve yet to hear anything about a 2023 programme. It would be a shame to see it end.

A terrific series, Eastern Caribbean 8 has offered a wide range of subjects across its many releases, although primarily focusing on the natural world, with a smattering of tourism and national themes thrown in. Each issue is offered in a choice of four one-ounce coins, two silver, two gold. One of each is a bullion coin, while the other is a coloured proof, sold with typical numismatic packaging. The order in which the eight islands designs are issued varies each year.

The Montserrat coin carries an attractive sea turtle under the water. The design is basically realistic in nature, but the coloured variants have been produced using a heavily stylised palette. It actually suits the design well, in our opinion. The standard bullion variants come across as more realistic, and is a nice piece of work. St. Lucia is represented this time by a couple holding hands, while gazing out to sea watching, what we assume is a sunrise. It’s very clean, if a little simplistic, but a nice composition regardless. The proof variants employ some nice gradation in the colour, which is neither garish, or under-saturated.

All eight coins should be available to order now. We have a comprehensive Bullion Profile up on site, with full details of every issue since the original launch in 2018. This was recently completely revamped, so seeing every issue to date is much easier, and it’s been condensed to just three pages from the previous five. Check it out – this is an impressive series.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $2 (XCD) $2 (XCD) $10 (XCD) $10 (XCD)
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 B/UNC Proof B/UNC 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