BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS $1 2007 = AMERICAN EAGLE & LION=

This year sees the 400th Anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in America and the British Virgin Islands Government have approved the release of a stunning new coin to commemorate this historic event.

In June 1606, King James I granted a charter to a group of London entrepreneurs to establish an English settlement in North America. On December 19th 1607 settlers sailed from London on three ships, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the Discovery to discover the New World. The explorers landed on Jamestown Island to establish the Virginia English colony on the banks on the James River. Only 60 of the original settlers survived the first winter and it was only when the new Governor, Lord De La Ware arrived with supply ships that the colony was put back on its feet.

To mark this historic anniversary and the relationship between the US and UK, replicas of the three ships departed from the UK on 19th December 2006 to re-enact the original departure and hope to arrive in Jamestown in May 2007. Her Majesty the Queen will also pay a State Visit to the United States in May to celebrate the event.

The classic design on the coin itself shows the English Lion and the American Eagle together to re-iterate the special relationship between the two nations. The olive branch represents peace and the acorn and oak leaf represent the grown of friendship.

 BU , Copper-Nickel , 38.8mm