100 Dollars Sailing Ships

Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence from Britain on 1 November 1981, and this note was issued as part of that commemorative moment — a legal tender novelty rather than a circulating banknote. The combination of .999 fine silver substrate with 23K gold foil overlay placed it firmly in the collector issue category from the outset; no one was ever expected to spend it.

Alan D'Estrehan designed several Caribbean commemorative issues during this period. These silver-and-gold format notes were produced in strictly limited quantities, and the precious metal content has always driven secondary market pricing far more than any numismatic premium.