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| 1806 Bahamas - Penny (Obverse) | 1806 Bahamas - Penny (Reverse) |
1806 Bahamas - Penny 2nd ship on the horizon (9 o'clock) |
This is one year type coin issued for use as currency on the Bahama islands (several hundred) in 1806
Obverse: Bust of King George III, facing right.
Reverse: A four mast ship, fully rigged with sails in the centre. A 2nd smaller 3 mast ship, on the horizon (9 o'clock),
Sea and clouds, at right 3 o'clock.
Below the larger ship - EXPULSIS PIRATIS RESTITUTA COMMERCIA (in 3 lines)
Translated to mean: Pirates defeated Commerce restored.
Engraver: Conrad Heienrich Kuchler (both sides)
Edge: Engrailed
Mint: Soho Mint, Birmingham.
History: The economy of the Bahama islands used barter and Spanish gold and silver for currency. Some of the new America states were using copper coins. The Bahamas legislature passed an act re the use of copper coins. In June 1806 the Bahamas legislature put in an order with Matthew Bolton's Soho Mint for £500.00 worth of copper pennies.
For the obverse the Mint used the obverse die as used by the British halfpenny and the reverse design was reminder of the British intervention lead by Woodes Rogers against pirates back in the early 1700's.
The local population of the islands refused to accept these copper coins as they preferred 'cut' silver and gold coins.
No
further copper coins were issued for the Bahamas until 1969. The Bahama islands
were granted self governance in January, 1964 and full independence on 10 July,
1973.
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