On 16th September 1620, a merchant ship called the Mayflower sailed from England to Plymouth, USA to the ‘New World’. On board the ship were 102 men, women and children; half of which were Pilgrims’ looking for a new life away from religious persecution. After a treacherous journey through storms and high waves, the mayflower finally reached its journeys end after 66 gruelling days.

We’re looking at the history of the vessel, as well as five facts you may not know…

1. The Mayflower had several design flaws. The high wall-like sides and overall design of the ship made if difficult to sail in strong winds. This in turn made the journey twice as long as it should have been.
2. There was a birth upon the Mayflower. During the voyage, one passenger, Elizabeth Hopkins, gave birth to a baby boy. He was appropriately named Oceanus.
3. The conditions on board were very cramped. The journey was supposed to be completed by two ships, but the second – the Speedwell – was deemed unseaworthy. In turn, all passengers were crammed onto the Mayflower, alongside food, tools, weapons and live animals.
4. The Mayflower was a merchant ship prior. Before carrying passengers to the ‘New World’ in 1620, the Mayflower wad a merchant ship that transported a variety of goods including wine, salt and hemp.
5. The Mayflower had four medium and eight small sized cannons. The passengers and crew felt that a form of defense may be needed against pirates, French, Spanish and Native Americans.
6. In April 1621, the Mayflower set out on its return voyage to England. It only took the vessel one month for the return trip, unlike the 66 days it took going.
7. It is estimated that approximately 35 million Americans living today are descendants of the original 102 passengers who came to America from England. We’ve spoken to one of them here.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower, and one of the most important moments in the history of Europe and the Americas. To commemorate this moment in history, we have minted a world-first sovereign range, the 2020 Mayflower 400th Anniversary Gold Sovereign range.

Gold Quarter Sovereign

The new Quarter sovereign depicts the Pilgrims’ as they load their supplies onto the Mayflower in preparation for their Atlantic voyage. The quarter sovereign is limited to just 1,620 – the year the Mayflower arrived in America – and is subject to our Sell-Out Guarantee. This means that availability of this coin will end on 31st March 2021, and any coins that are unsold at that time will be melted down and verified to that effect.

Each of the sovereigns released for the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower, including the Quarter Sovereign, has a selective frosting technique applied to the coin to enhance the design and highlight the main moments of the Pilgrim journey. This technique has never been used on sovereign coins before, making this coin series the first of its kind!

You can purchase the 2020 Mayflower 400^th Anniversary Gold Quarter Sovereign HERE for £99. If you would like to enquire about any other coins in the Mayflower Gold Sovereign Range, you can view and purchase the full range HERE, or call us on 0333 2343103 for any further assistance.