STORY OF THE VERGULDE DRAECK

As presented by the mint:

On the morning of 28 April 1656, a VOC ship called the Vergulde Draeck, travelling towards Batavia (now Jakarta) with a load of trade goods, coins, cargo, passengers and crew, struck an uncharted reef off the coast of Western Australia.
The reef gutted the ship and only 75 of the crew survived, along with a small quantity of provisions and a single boat.

The under steersman, Abraham Leeman, took the boat and six crew on an astonishing and grueling journey to Batavia and reported the wreck.
Several attempts were made to rescue the survivors, but they were never located.
The wreck of the Vergulde Draeck was discovered in 1963 and was excavated in 1972. Some 19,000 coins were recovered, mainly Spanish reals and some Japanese silver coins. The mystery of what became of the survivors of the Vergulde Draeck has never been answered. This was one of the most enigmatic episodes of Australia’s maritime history.

The reverse features the VOC Vergulde Draeck in all of her glory upon fair seas. The ship is surrounded with regal, maritime ornaments common to the period. However, the banner inscriptions are displayed upside down. Although quite unusual at first glance, this is a truly remarkable design and every bit as unique as the coin’s shape.

The obverse displays the terrible scene as it unfolded, resulting in the Vergulde Draeck succumbing to her dreadful fate.
The wrecked ship is shown in the background, prior to its final capsizing.
The active scene continues as it depicts the crew escaping alive in the single lifeboat.

And finally, as the wreckage was discovered and some of the lost cargo was retrieved over 300 years later.
At the top point of the border, a circular inset displays the 6th generation effigy of Queen Elizabeth II to be displayed on Australian coins, produced by Jody Clark in 2019.
Inscriptions include, “ELIZABETH II . AUSTRALIA 2020.”
At the bottom of the design is displayed the face value of “ONE DOLLAR.” A decorative border frames the scene.

This triangular silver beauty got me hooked from the moment I saw it 😍 such a beautiful shape and I love the details so much in this piece.
And as a pirate... Seing a ship and tressure wakes my stackitus and tickle my booty 😜 Buwahahaha.. Aaaarrrr!

Why is pirating so addictive?
They say once ye lose yer first hand,
ye get hooked! 😂 Lmao

STACK ON PEOPLE!!

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