The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank issues these collector pieces outside its standard circulating series, licensing culturally remote historical themes — Aztec civilization has no geographic or historical connection to the Eastern Caribbean — primarily as a revenue mechanism targeting the international numismatic market. Several small currency authorities have adopted this practice since the 1990s, effectively renting their issuing authority to private minting companies who handle design, production, and distribution.
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank issues these collector pieces outside its standard circulating series, licensing culturally remote historical themes — Aztec civilization has no geographic or historical connection to the Eastern Caribbean — primarily as a revenue mechanism targeting the international numismatic market. Several small currency authorities have adopted this practice since the 1990s, effectively renting their issuing authority to private minting companies who handle design, production, and distribution.