The British Virgin Islands gained the right to issue its own coinage in 1973, a fiscal arrangement tied to its status as a dependent territory rather than any shift in political standing. The Franklin Mint produced much of the early BVI coinage under contract, targeting the collector market almost exclusively — these large copper-nickel pieces saw virtually no circulation, which explains why survivors are almost universally found in mint state.
The British Virgin Islands gained the right to issue its own coinage in 1973, a fiscal arrangement tied to its status as a dependent territory rather than any shift in political standing. The Franklin Mint produced much of the early BVI coinage under contract, targeting the collector market almost exclusively — these large copper-nickel pieces saw virtually no circulation, which explains why survivors are almost universally found in mint state.