The 2021 Eastern Caribbean 8 bullion coin programme nears completion with the addition of two aquatic releases

Scottsdale Mint’s premiere bullion coin series, the Eastern Caribbean 8, is continuing to catch up with the delays imposed by Covey, and today sees the launch of the fifth and sixth coins from the eight-coin 2021 program. For those unfamiliar, the programme encompasses eight Caribbean island nations which are all part of the Eastern Caribbean bank’s sphere of influence. As such, they all carry a common obverse, with the national identity shown only on the reverse face. The 2021 cycle is the fourth since its inception in 2018.

For this release we have St. Vincent & the Grenadines, represented by a humpback whale, and the volcanic island of Montserrat, using a Blue-Girdled Angelfish. There’s been a wide range of subjects in this series, even amongst each country, so it’s no doubt a coincidence we get a pair of aquatic designs this time. That doesn’t mean the styles are the same, with the Humpback Whale coin using a more stylistic type of artwork to show us this magnificent animal. The Montserrat coin uses a more photo-realistic approach for its depiction of the gorgeous Angelfish. Both look good, in my view.

No changes to the available formats, with all four of the one-ounce offerings returning. There are cleanly struck gold and silver bullion coins, along with brightly coloured, and considerably smaller numbers of gold and silver proof variants. The proof coins come neatly boxed, complete with a Certificate of Authenticity. The bullion coin come encapsulated, the gold in the mints Certi-Lock security packaging. We’ve always liked this series for its sheer variety, and it continues to do so. Yet to come are St. Lucia, and St. Kitts & Nevis. We’re not expecting too long a wait for those. You can see all the previous issues in each of the 4 variants in our comprehensive Bullion Coin Profile.

HUMPBACK WHALE

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale, and one of the larger rorqual species, with adults ranging in length from 12 to 16 m and weighing around 25–30 t. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviours, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours at a time. All the males in a group will produce the same song, which is different each season. Its purpose is not clear, though it may help induce estrus in females.

Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 km each year. They feed in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth, fasting and living off their fat reserves. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net technique.

Like other large whales, the humpback was a target for the whaling industry. The species was once hunted to the brink of extinction; its population fell by an estimated 90% before a 1966 moratorium. While numbers have partially recovered to some 80,000 animals worldwide, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships and noise pollution continue to affect the species.(Wikipedia)

BLUE-GIRDLED ANGELFISH

Also called the Majestic Angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus), this beautiful fish lives in the Indo-Pacific region and grows as large as 28 cm in length. They take their name from the striking colouration, mainly the blue ‘girdle’ that runs from the face and along the lower part of the body. When young, they’re mainly blue all over, with the yellow coming on very quickly as the fish matures.

Found down to depths of almost 40 metres, they prefer coral-rich environments in lagoons and channels, which provide a rich source of food and protection. They tend to keep to themselves, feeding on everything from sponges and algae, to small invertebrates. They begin their adult lives as females, changing later in life to male.

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