The XIII Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh in July 1986, and proved politically fractious — 32 nations boycotted over Britain's refusal to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa, leaving the competition notably depleted. The Cayman Islands, as a British Overseas Territory, participated under the Crown and issued this coin as part of a broader series of gold commemoratives tied to the Games.
At just over 47 grams of 22-karat gold, this is a substantial issue by any measure. Mintages for Cayman commemorative gold of this period were tightly controlled and largely absorbed by collector markets rather than circulation.
The XIII Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh in July 1986, and proved politically fractious — 32 nations boycotted over Britain's refusal to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa, leaving the competition notably depleted. The Cayman Islands, as a British Overseas Territory, participated under the Crown and issued this coin as part of a broader series of gold commemoratives tied to the Games.
At just over 47 grams of 22-karat gold, this is a substantial issue by any measure. Mintages for Cayman commemorative gold of this period were tightly controlled and largely absorbed by collector markets rather than circulation.