British Virgin Islands Celebrate 160th Anniversary of The First American Stamps 2007 Coins

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In 1847, just seven years after the release of the Penny Black, the world’s first postage stamp, the United Government approved the release of two stamps valued at 5c and 10c.

The 5c stamp was produced in a brown shade and depicted Benjamin Franklin, the great politician and inventor who had been an important part of the American quest for Independence whilst the 10c stamp produced in black bore a portrait of the first American President George Washington. Both these stamps are now quite scarce with the catalogue price for the 5 cent at $12,500 and for the 10 cent at $27,500.

160 years later, these two much sought after stamps have been reproduced in the finest detail by Pobjoy Mint Ltd on behalf of the Government of the British Virgin Islands. It was in 1990 that the craftsmen of Pobjoy reproduced the Penny Black on a coin of the Isle of Man and quite rightly won no fewer than three International Coin of the Year Awards for this ground breaking piece which, by a special Pobjoy process was coloured black. Since then, issued coins have depicted some of the rarest and most collectable of all stamps, the Mauritius 2d Blue, the British Guiana 1c and the Western Australia Inverted Swan, the latter two coins being produced for BVI in coloured Titanium.

This latest fine pair combine both of the special techniques used in colouring metal, with the 5c being produced in Brown Titanium (as well as Titanium and Gold) and the 10c in the special Pobjoy ‘Pearl Black’ finish in Cupro Nickel and Proof Sterling Silver.

Both coins are exceptional examples of a modern day Sculptor copying the intricate designs of a 19th Century Engraver and would be the perfect set for any coin or stamp collector as well as any student of fine art.

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