Saint Kitts EC8

The 2018 1 Oz St. Kitts Pelican Silver Coin is the second release in a planned series of eight coins. The collection is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Scottsdale Mint to issue gold and silver bullion coins on behalf of the eight member nations of the ECCB. Known as the EC8, this collection will include coins for Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Saint Kitts and Nevis are part of the Leeward Islands chain, and are separated by a mere 2-miles wide channel known as “The Narrows.” It was one of the first Caribbean island settled by Europeans, including both the British and French and has a long and intriguing history. Tourism is a prominent economic factor.

The 1 oz. coin has a nominal value of $2 and is legal tender in Montserrat and countries aligned with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The coin is produced by the Scottsdale Mint with a purity of .999 Fine Silver. Mintages in the series are limited. The reverses will differ from year to year but will all share the motif of the sites found in and near St. Kitts and Nevis.

Silver Bullion Mintage

Design

Obverse: On the obverse of the coin is the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. This coin collection uses the fourth-generation right-profile portrait from Ian Rank-Broadley that was created in 1998. The effigy is surround by two feathers. Inscribed around the outer edge of the obverse is the term "EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK" from left to right across the top. From left to right across the bottom are the purity "1 OZ .999 FINE SILVER", "QUEEN ELIZABETH II", and the denomination "TWO DOLLARS".

Reverse: The 2018 reverse features a finely detailed brown pelican, wings fully spread as it rides the coastal breezes off Saint Kitts and Nevis. The coastline stretches far into the horizon with clouds in the distance. Several sailboats navigate through the relatively calm waters. The entire scene is displayed in a circular inset that is positioned a little lower than center. Very finely-engraved wavy lines encircle the inset out to the rim. Interestingly, the offset circular inset allows the lines to be very close together at the bottom rim and then spread further apart toward the top. The tip of the brown pelican’s right wing has broken free of the inset and superimposes the fine lines. Inscriptions include “St. Kitts & Nevis” at the top rim with the release year positioned just below and inside the inset.