Pitcairn Islands Silver from JM Bullion

Located in the South Pacific, the Pitcairn Islands represent one of the most isolated communities in the world. The islands have a rich, unique history, and are among the newest to see silver bullion coins issued to investors with themes celebrating the culture and natural environment in the surrounding area. Coins issued on behalf of the Pitcairn Islands come from the UK-based Tower Mint, with both Brilliant Uncirculated and collectible specimens offered across various series.

HMS Bounty Series

One of the most popular coin collections representing the Pitcairn Islands is inspired by the very history of the island itself. The HMS Bounty Series calls to mind the founding of the island and the history of its inhabitants. HMS Bounty’s brief but momentous naval career began in 1787 when the vessel was commissioned by the British Admiralty for a special botanical mission to collect breadfruit plants from Tahiti and transport them to the West Indies as a potential food source for slaves. Under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh, the ship departed England in December 1787 and spent five months in Tahiti collecting plants. The infamous mutiny occurred on April 28, 1789, when Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian and 25 crew members seized control of the ship, setting Bligh and 18 loyal crew adrift in a small launch. In an extraordinary feat of seamanship, Bligh navigated nearly 4,000 miles to safety in Timor. Meanwhile, Christian and the mutineers eventually settled on Pitcairn Island after returning some men to Tahiti, where they scuttled and burned the Bounty in January 1790, with parts of the ship’s remains still visible in Bounty Bay until the mid-20th century.

Lunar Calendar Series

Like many nations represented in precious metals collection, Pitcairn Islands backs a series of Lunar Calendar-themed coins from the Tower Mint. The Chinese Lunar Calendar features a 12-year cycle represented by animals—Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig—whose origins trace back over 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty. According to popular legend, the Jade Emperor held a race to determine the calendar order, with the clever Rat riding on the Ox’s back before jumping ahead to claim first place, while the Pig’s late arrival relegated it to the final position. Each animal is believed to impart distinct personality traits and destinies to those born in their respective years, creating a rich cultural framework for understanding personal characteristics and compatibility.

Nature-themed Series

The South Pacific region surrounding the Pitcairn Islands is home to a rich array of natural environments and species. Tower Mint often celebrates the marine life in the surrounding waters through various design collections. The waters surrounding the Pitcairn Islands constitute one of the world’s largest marine protected areas, harboring an extraordinary biodiversity that includes over 1,249 marine species, with approximately 40 recognized as endemic to these pristine waters. The region serves as a critical sanctuary for threatened marine life, including the endangered hawksbill turtle and green turtle, alongside vibrant coral reefs that support over 300 fish species ranging from the diminutive fairy basslet to imposing tiger sharks. What makes this ecosystem particularly remarkable is its isolation, which has allowed marine communities to evolve with minimal human interference until recent centuries.

History of the Pitcairn Islands

The Pitcairn Islands, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific, became permanently inhabited following the infamous Bounty mutiny of 1789. Led by Fletcher Christian, nine mutineers along with six Tahitian men and twelve Tahitian women settled on Pitcairn Island, burning the Bounty to avoid detection by the Royal Navy. The small colony remained undiscovered for 18 years until the American sealing ship Topaz found them in 1808, by which time only one mutineer, John Adams, remained alive. The isolated community developed its own distinct culture and language, Pitcairnese, a unique creole blending 18th-century English with Tahitian elements. Despite its tiny population, which has rarely exceeded 250 people throughout its history, the islands gained British colonial status in 1838 and continue to maintain one of the world’s smallest democracies.

Buy Pitcairn Islands Silver from JM Bullion

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to JM Bullion if you have any questions about Pitcairn Islands silver coins. You can call us at 800-276-6508, chat with us online, or email us directly. Our Payment Methods page is a great resource for those with questions about payment-related issues.