Fictional ships from literature and the arts are the subject of a new series of silver coins from the Perth Mint of Australia. The Famous Ships That Never Sailed series features its first two releases with the 2013 Flying Dutchman 1oz Silver Proof Coin and the 2013 Pequod 1oz Silver Proof Coin.
Each is struck to proof quality from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver. Each also features a limited mintage of 3,000.
"The exciting new Famous Ships That Never Sailed series captures the unforgettable tales of the legendary tall ships bound in the pages of literature and the classical arts," describes the Perth Mint website.
The new program continues a maritime theme started by the Perth Mint with its Ships that Changed the World series. Unlike the new coins which depict fictional ships, the previous program offered historical vessels like the Santa Maria, the Golden Hind, the Mayflower, the USS Constitution and the Cutty Sark.
Flying Dutchman and Pequod Coin Designs and Specifications
The 2013 Flying Dutchman Silver Proof Coin has a reverse design of the Flying Dutchman floating above a rough sea. In keeping with the foreboding nature of the ship, lightning can be seen behind it. Underneath, "The Flying Dutchman" is inscribed.
While mythical in nature, many superstitious sailors believed in the Flying Dutchman. Its appearance was thought to precede disaster as it sailed the seas for eternity.
The 2013 Pequod Silver Proof Coin depicts a ship whose fate is just as grave. Literature lovers will recall that the Pequod is the ship of Captain Ahab from Herman Melville’s literary classic, Moby Dick. The Pequod is sunk by the whale that was sought after in a vengeful quest by Ahab.
Both the ship and the whale appear on the reverse design for the coin. Also included are the inscriptions of "Moby Dick" and "The Pequod."
The two coins are issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu. Shown on the obverse of both is the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Obverse inscriptions include "QUEEN ELIZABETH II," "2013," "TUVALU," "1 OZ 999 SILVER" and the legal tender face value of "1 DOLLAR."
Specifications of the one ounce, 99.9% fine silver coins include a diameter of 40.60 mm and a maximum thickness of 4.00 mm. The minimum gross weight of each is 31.135 grams.
Each coin is presented in a wooden display case in the shape of a book and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Additional on information on the Flying Dutchman and Pequod silver coins may be found on the Perth Mint of Australia website at www.perthmint.com.au. Pricing is listed at AUS $90.00, or US $86.13, but may change with market fluctuations. An affiliate link to the Mint’s site follows:
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Hmmm … how ’bout the Titan?
Nope, _not_ the one that hit the iceberg, at least not in real life. Titan sailed the pages of Morgan Robertson’s novel “Futility” – – in 1898.