1000 Francs Mayflower

Rwanda has issued commemorative silver under its own authority since the early 2000s, functioning essentially as a contract mint client — the coins have no domestic circulation function and are produced entirely for the international collector market. This piece marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage of 1620, when 102 passengers departed Plymouth, England, and arrived at Cape Cod after 66 days at sea. The ship itself was a merchant vessel, not purpose-built for the crossing.

The anniversary year, 2020, saw several mints compete for the commemorative market on this subject. Rwanda's entry through the Scottsdale Mint pipeline is among the heavier offerings in that cohort.