Catalog
100 Dollars Sailing Ships
| Issuer | Government of Antigua & Barbuda |
|---|---|
| Year | 1981 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 100 Dollars |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central vignette in fine relief on a 23K gold foil ground presents a full-rigged sailing vessel identified as Jean Laffite's schooner The Pride, rendered in .999 fine silver with intricate rigging detail against a stylised sea. Denomination numerals "100" appear in bold relief within ornate cartouches at each corner, flanked by elaborate floral and foliate pillar borders. The issuer legend runs along the upper register within a ruled panel, with the vessel identification inscribed to the upper right of the central vignette. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA & BARBUDA INDEPENDENCE NOVEMBER 1981 MINISTRY OF FINANCE ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS |
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| Comments |
Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from Britain on 1 November 1981, and this note was issued to mark exactly that — a commemorative piece rather than a circulating banknote, with no role in everyday commerce. The Eastern Caribbean Dollar remained the practical currency throughout.
The .999 fine silver substrate with 23K gold foil overlay was a production technique gaining traction among small-island commemorative issuers in the early 1980s, often contracted through specialist manufacturers rather than traditional security printers. Alan D'Estrehan's involvement suggests a regional design commission, though documentation on the actual production facility for this specific issue is limited.