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St. Helena and Ascension: unadopted designs for collector coins

Started by <k>, December 24, 2016, 06:44:24 PM

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<k>

St Helena-1.jpg



St Helena-2.jpg


The government of St. Helena requested some collector coins to commemorate the colony's 150th anniversary. The files do not show who drew these initial sketches, but the artist may have been Michael Hibbit, since he designed the eventual commemorative coin of 1984. Napoleon died on St. Helena in 1821, so there is no reason why he should figure in the designs, other than to appeal to collectors.

Under the provisions of the 1833 India Act, control of Saint Helena passed from the East India Company to the British Crown, becoming a crown colony.
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<k>

St Helena-arms.jpg



St_Helena 50p gold 1984.jpg


The commemorative 50 pence coin was released in 1984.

It commemorated St Helena's inauguration as a British colony on April 22 1834.


Above you Michael's Hibbit's first drawing of the coat of arms.

It included a turtle for Ascension and a crayfish for Tristan da Cunha.


However, the latter two did not have their own official arms at that time.

St Helena's arms included only the plover bird.
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<k>

St Helena sketch R Elderton.jpg


In 1984 the Royal Mint approached the government of St.Helena.

Would it be interested in a coin commemorating the 165th anniversary of Napoleon's death?

He had died on St. Helena in 1821. Such a theme could prove quite profitable for the territory. 


A Royal Mint official had previously commented that this was not a good idea.

He had received "a very cool response" to a similar suggestion in 1971.

He considered that St. Helena were very antagonistic to the idea of Napoleon.

However, this time the proposal was accepted.


Above you see the first sketch of Royal Mint artist Robert Elderton.

He shows the arrival of Napoleon in Jamestown, the capital of St Helena.

He is being greeted by the governor and a young inhabitant of St Helena.
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<k>

St Helena sketch R Elderton-.jpg


St. Helena asked the Royal Mint to portray the governor standing alone.

The inhabitant portrayed was not a known personality.

He was therefore without significance.
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<k>

St Helena final sketch R Elderton.jpg


St. Helena asked that the cameo of Napoleon be removed.

Napoleon should be shown in tunic but without a sword.

He should be shown alone, looking out at HMS Northumberland.

The ship should be enlarged and shown in greater detail.


The result was more pleasing than the previous designs.

But that was not the end of the story.

After a visit to London, St. Helena's governor stopped over in Paris.

He show the proposed design to the French Consul.

To his relief, the Frenchman showed no objection to the design.


It had still to be signed off by the Queen.

She was doubtless Mindful of French feelings for their hero.

But she gave her approval.
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<k>



St Helena-Ascension, 50 pounds, 1986.  Napoleon on St Helena.

And here is the issued coin. It was also issued as a copper-nickel 25 pence coin.
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<k>

St HelenaAscension-RoyalWedding-MR Rejection-.jpg



St.Helena-Ascension sketch by M Rizzello-Palace rejected1986.jpg


Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson married in 1986.

St.Helena-Ascension had planned to issue a coin in their honour.


English artist and sculptor Michael Rizzello produced a sketch.

It was subsequently turned into a plaster by the Royal Mint.

It was sent to the Queen for her approval.


The Queen disliked the design.

She thought the portrayal showed the couple smiling too broadly.

She commented that she thought the Falkland Islands' design far superior.

She considered that of the Cook Islands best of all.


Mr Rizzello made an amended version, but it was also rejected.

John Savage had created the design for the Cook Islands.

He was now commissioned to produce St. Helena and Ascension design.
.
It was accepted
.
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Figleaf

On the first two 1986 designs you show, the ship is a frigate.

This is historically incorrect, because HMS Northumberland (1795) was a third-rater.

The ship is rendered correctly in the later designs.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Maolalaidh

Quote from: <k> on December 24, 2016, 06:51:52 PM
The coin commemorating St Helena's inauguration as a British colony, on April 22 1834, was released in 1984 and commemorated the year.

Michael's Hibbit's first drawing of the coat of arms included a turtle for Ascension and a crayfish for Tristan da Cunha. However, the latter two did not have their own official arms at that time, and St Helena's arms only included the plover bird.

I did not realise before that Michael Hibbit designed the commemorative 1984 50p, I only knew that he designed the 1984 set of circulating coins consisting of; 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 50p & £1. Many thanks for providing that information. Kind regards, James.