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100 Dollars Sailing Ships
| Issuer | Government of Antigua & Barbuda |
|---|---|
| Year | 1981 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 100 Dollars |
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| Obverse description | The central vignette presents a bold-relief intaglio rendering of Samuel Bellamy's pirate galley Whydah under full sail on open seas, executed in .999 fine silver against a 23K gold foil ground. Elaborate floral and foliate border ornaments frame the composition at left and right, with denomination numerals "100" set in oval cartouches at each corner. The legend "GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA & BARBUDA" runs along the top border, with "ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS" inscribed in relief along the lower panel, flanked by decorative guilloche rosettes. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents an all-over 23K gold foil relief composition with a central maritime vignette interpreted as the wreck or seabed scene associated with the Whydah treasure, rendered in bold sculptural relief with wave and rocky formations across the field. A circular medallion at lower left bears the Antiguan coat of arms, while a portrait cameo medallion appears at lower right. Denomination numerals "100" are set in scalloped cartouches at all four corners, with the independence commemorative inscription positioned below the top border legend. |
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| Comments |
Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence from Britain on 1 November 1981, and this note was issued as part of a commemorative series marking exactly that transition — not intended for commercial circulation at any point. The construction is unusual: silver foil laminated against a gold foil backing, a technique more associated with philatelic souvenir production than conventional notaphily.
Alan D'Estrehan designed several pieces in this Caribbean commemorative category during the early 1980s. Whether the 153 × 70 mm format was chosen to echo conventional banknote proportions by design or convention is not documented, but the choice is deliberate — these were meant to be read as currency objects, not medallions.