100 Dollars Sailing Ships

Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence from Britain on 1 November 1981, and this note was issued as part of a commemorative series marking exactly that transition — not intended for commercial circulation at any point. The construction is unusual: silver foil laminated against a gold foil backing, a technique more associated with philatelic souvenir production than conventional notaphily.

Alan D'Estrehan designed several pieces in this Caribbean commemorative category during the early 1980s. Whether the 153 × 70 mm format was chosen to echo conventional banknote proportions by design or convention is not documented, but the choice is deliberate — these were meant to be read as currency objects, not medallions.