Bermuda Variations, 1970

[Galapagos]

In 1970 Bermuda released two collector coins.

A gold twenty dollar coin depicted a cahow bird.

A silver one dollar coin showing fish leaping and a map of the islands.


Here are some scans of photocopies of Royal Mint documents.

I made these at the National Archives, London. 


They depict unadopted variations on these themes.

All these designs are by the English numismatic artist Michael Rizzello.

He also designed Bermuda's circulation coins.

[Galapagos]

Here are the actual designs that were released in 1970.

[BC Numismatics]

The Bermudian gold $20 reverse design reminds me of the reverse designs of one of the gold coins that the Franklin Mint struck for the British Virgin Islands in the late 1970's.

Aidan.

[Galapagos]

Aidan, I can see the signature of Gilroy Roberts on the coin you mention. The Bermudian designs were by Michael Rizzello.

[<k>]

See also: Michael Rizzello, Coin Designer.

[<k>]

Bermuda's first decimal circulation coins were released in 1970.

From 1966 onwards, the Royal Mint assigned Michael Rizzello to produce designs for the new coinage.

Here is the most unusual of the designs he produced for the one cent coin: brain coral.


From Wikipedia:

"Brain coral is a common name given to corals in the family Faviidae.

They are so called due to their generally spheroid shape and grooved surface which resembles a brain."

[<k>]

Another provisional design for the one cent coin depicted a triton shell.

See also: Seashells and conches on coins.

[<k>]

Two onions appear on another alternative design for the one cent coin.

[<k>]

The issued one cent coin featured a wild boar.

[<k>]

Blue-eyed grass.



The alternative design for the 10 cents coin.

It showed Bermuda's national flower, the blue-eyed grass.

[<k>]

This is the issued 10 cents coin, which features an Easter lily.

See also: Flowers on coins

[<k>]

This alternative 25 cents design (bottom) shows a sailing boat.

The design was not used.

However, a sailing boat has appeared on the Bermuda circulation dollar since 1988.

[<k>]

A cahow appears on another alternative 25 cents design.

A cahow design featured on a Bermuda dollar coin in 1983 only.

[<k>]

The issued 25 cents coins showed a white-tailed tropic bird.

See also: Birds on coins



A photo of a white-tailed tropic bird.

[Figleaf]

I have always assumed that the piggy was inspired by hog money, but never tested the hypothesis.

Put them side by side and it is quite obvious.

Peter