Catalog
| Issuer | Nevis |
|---|---|
| Year | 1801 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | 7 Black dogs (7⁄72) |
| Currency | Nevis Dollar (1801) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | |
| Diameter | |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | |
| Orientation | |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | KM#4 |
| Obverse description | Countermark above incuse 7. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | NEVIS 7 |
| Reverse description | Blank. |
| Reverse script | |
| Reverse lettering | |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (1801) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 7234343130 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: Issued in 1801 under King George III, the Nevis "7 Black dogs" coin addressed severe currency shortages in British West Indian colonies during the Napoleonic Wars. Nevis, a sugar island, created emergency fractional currency by cutting larger foreign silver coins, primarily Spanish Reales. The "Black Dog" was a common local term for a small denomination. This issue valued a silver segment at seven such units, a pragmatic solution for local circulation.
Artistry: The "7 Black dogs" coin's artistry reflects utilitarian colonial craftsmanship. It comprises a cut segment, typically a quarter, of a larger silver host coin (e.g., Spanish 8 Reales), retaining fragments of its original design.