Caribbean Pirate Treasure..... Sort of.....

[SirStacksALot]

I took my family on a cruise in the Caribbean a few weeks ago, and here are some of the coins and tokens that I picked up.  Mostly change from other countries, a few tokens, some fake Spanish Doubloons "Pirate Treasure", and a cool 1736 1/2 Reale Spanish Cob. The first stop was Nassau, Bahamas, and there are some pictures of some local currency I picked up there. The second stop was in St. Thomas, which is a US island. No need to grab any US change, but they did have some cool Replica "Pirate Treasure" which is pictured below, much cheaper than the real pirate treasure. There was also a cool store in St. Thomas called SOS Antiques. I picked up the mounted 1/2 Reale there.

[SirStacksALot]

The third stop was St. Martin.  This 34 square mile island is actually half French, and half Dutch (Netherlands). I grabbed some change from both sides. I'm not much of a gambler, but I also like to collect $5 casino chips, so I picked a few up on the ship. I played Roulette for about 20 minutes, won my souvenir chips and about $9. I hope you enjoy the pics.

[Triggersmob]

Jim, I hope you and your family had a wonderful cruise.
I didn't realise they use Euros in St. Martins.
You learn something new every day. 

[Erik]

I have never seen the sea   Maybe in future.
Here are very nice coins and pirate tokens from Caribbean.

[Sap]

I didn't realise they use Euros in St. Martins.

The French half of St Martins has always officially used euros since the launch of the euro, though since American tourists form the mainstay of their economy, the US dollar is widely accepted as well.

The Dutch half used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles, a federation of all the remaining former Dutch colonies in the Caribbean. The federation was dissolved in 2010 and each island has gone its separate ways, choosing its destiny by referendum. Sint Maarten has chosen to become an independent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (much as Aruba did back in 1986), rather than choose to become an integral part of the Netherlands or to become a fully independent republic.

As far as currency is concerned, they plan to continue to use the Netherlands Antilles guilder until it is replaced sometime in the near future by a new joint currency between Sint Maarten and Curacao, to be known as the "Caribbean guilder". The other three former member-states of the Netherlands Antilles have all formally adopted the US dollar.

[Templar]

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I have never seen the sea   Maybe in future.
Here are very nice coins and pirate tokens from Caribbean.

DON'T WORRY ERIK WITH THE MELTING OF THE POLAR ICE CAPS YOU MIGHT SEE THE OCEAN SOONER THAN YOU THINK............

[Triggersmob]

I didn't realise they use Euros in St. Martins.

The French half of St Martins has always officially used euros since the launch of the euro, though since American tourists form the mainstay of their economy, the US dollar is widely accepted as well.

The Dutch half used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles, a federation of all the remaining former Dutch colonies in the Caribbean. The federation was dissolved in 2010 and each island has gone its separate ways, choosing its destiny by referendum. Sint Maarten has chosen to become an independent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (much as Aruba did back in 1986), rather than choose to become an integral part of the Netherlands or to become a fully independent republic.

As far as currency is concerned, they plan to continue to use the Netherlands Antilles guilder until it is replaced sometime in the near future by a new joint currency between Sint Maarten and Curacao, to be known as the "Caribbean guilder". The other three former member-states of the Netherlands Antilles have all formally adopted the US dollar.

Thanks for that info Sap.
Might be another coin series to look out for soon.

[SirStacksALot]

I was wondering why the Dutch side didn't use euros even though the Netherlands is part of the EU.  They did accept American money everywhere we went on all three islands, and they used mostly American change in quite a few places on the islands.

We did have a great cruise Steve. Hopefully someday we can make it halfway around the world to Australia. It seems like a cool place to visit.

I would have to guess that you will see the ocean someday Erik.  You still have a lot of years ahead of you to see the world. It would take a lot of melted ice for the ocean to come to you. Who knows, with this weird winter and "polar vortex".... I guess anything can happen.

[Triggersmob]

Hopefully someday we can make it halfway around the world to Australia. It seems like a cool place to visit.

It is a great place. I wouldn't trade living in Western Australia for anything.

[Humpybong]

Hopefully someday we can make it halfway around the world to Australia. It seems like a cool place to visit.

It is a great place. I wouldn't trade living in Western Australia for anything.

Except living in Queensland that is!

[Triggersmob]

No! Not even Queensland. That would be the next place on my list though, if I had to move. 

[Muckeye]

You would always be welcome here Steve.Even with your
regional Bias! However take your time and make a sane decision.
Regards from myself and Sir Humpybong and any other 'Banana
Benders..................Muckeye...

[Triggersmob]

Queensland, beautiful one day, blown away in cyclones the next. 

I really do love all my Banana bender friends.