250 Dollars Prince Charles

Issued to mark Prince Charles's investiture — no, that was 1969. This coin commemorates his 1979 visit to Jamaica, one of several Caribbean tours undertaken as the Commonwealth relationship with Britain was growing increasingly strained politically. Jamaica had been independent since 1962, and by the late 1970s Michael Manley's government was navigating a sharp leftward tilt that made royal commemoratives a quietly complicated gesture.

At 43.22 g of .900 gold, this is among the heavier Commonwealth commemorative issues of the period. Mintages were low and largely absorbed by collectors at issue.