Pirate Queens (3.) - Mary Read
1 Oz Gold - Uncirculated

• 3rd and Final Issue of the Pirate Queens Series
• Premium Bullion Coin
• 99.99% pure Gold
• Limited Mintage only 100 pieces
• With Certificate of Authenticity
• Delivery in original Box

The third and final issue of the Series Pirate Queens is dedicated to the legendary British pirate Mary Read. The motive of the Premium Bullion Coin from the Royal Australian Mint features the pirate ship of Mary Read with hoisted flag. It is parallel to another ship in the background and fires cannon shots at it. Below the ship is the typical pirate emblem - a skull with two crossed infantry swords. The inscription "MARY READ", the weight and the fineness complete the design. The reverse shows the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the denomination and the year of issue.

Mary Read was born in London in 1685 or 1690 as an illegitimate child. Her widowed mother dressed Mary as a boy to replace her deceased firstborn and to hide the affair from which Mary was born from her in-laws. Since the benefits of living as a man did not escape Mary, she continued to dress up and call herself "Mark." In this way, she first served in the military and then signed on with a merchant ship that was captured by pirates en route to the Caribbean, whom she voluntarily followed. In 1720 she met Anne Bonny and John Rackham. Numerous myths have grown up around the adventurous love story between the two women that resulted from this encounter. In 1720, the pirate crew was ambushed and overpowered. Rackham was executed, whereas Anne Bonny and Mary Read were initially imprisoned due to alleged pregnancies. Mary Read died there of a fever. The Pirate Queens - Mary Read Premium Bullion Coin in Gold is strictly limited to only 100 pieces worldwide and is delivered in the original box including a numbered certificate of authenticity from the Royal Australian Mint.