Mayflower Voyage & 400th Anniversary Gold Coins: History, Design & Value

Mayflower Voyage & 400th Anniversary Gold Coins: History, Design & Value

The Mayflower coin celebrates an event so old and important that without it, you wouldn't have the United States. The time when pilgrims embarked on the journey to the New World, to find new life.

Have you ever heard of a coin identifier online? It’s an app that can identify coins, their values, and even give you overviews on bits.

The Mayflower Voyage: Historical Significance for Collectors

It all started with the Mayflower voyage. A historical event, when in 1620, a group of pilgrims set out on a voyage to the New World (America), in hopes of a better life. The ship called “Mayflower” sailed for over 2 months until it finally reached Massachusetts.

400 years later, a commemorative coin was made, celebrating this event. A Mayflower coin. Why are people keen on collecting this piece? 

  1. Historical value. This bit celebrates an important historical event and historical themes all too common for many Americans: migration and hope.

  2. Wide appeal. Mayflower coins attract both traditional coin collectors and non-numismatic buyers (patriots, local museums, historians, and original pilgrims’ descendants). That wider attraction brings more people to trade and collect such coins.

  3. Investment Potential. Modern commemoratives are rarely worth a lot of money, but with time, they all gain value. Therefore, some people might acquire these bits now to trade them on the secondary market later. Plus, it is a gold coin, which is as valuable as the gold market today.

Mayflower Commemorative Coins Overview

There were two kinds of Mayflower bits, created by different countries and Mints. We have a version from the West Point Mints (U.S.) and the version from the Royal Mint (U.K.).

Both are very similar, but still come with some differences. 


Attribute

2020-W Mayflower 400th Anniversary Gold (U.S.)

2020 Mayflower 400th Anniversary £2 Gold (U.K.)

Country

United States

United Kingdom

Years of Minting

2020

Type

Commemorative Gold

Shape

Round

Round

Metal Content

.999 Fine Gold (24-karat)

22-Carat Gold (Yellow Gold Center + Red Gold Outer Ring)

Diameter

22.00 mm

28.40 mm

Weight

7.776 g (1/4 Troy Ounce)

15.97 g

Mintage

Approx. 5,000 bits

585 bits

Approx. Values

$1,100+

£1,000+ ($1,300+)


All in all, the gold bits from the UK are fewer in number and practice bimetallism

400th Anniversary Mayflower Gold Coin Design & Features

It’s fascinating to see how two countries portrayed similar themes so differently. 

Mayflower Voyage & 400th Anniversary Gold coin from the U.S.

The U.S. version’s obverse shows a Wampanoag family (Indigenous people native to the region). They are preparing, waiting for the arrival of the Mayflower ship.

The reverse shows a pair of pilgrims, likely the ones on the ship. 

Mayflower Voyage & 400th Anniversary Gold coin from the U.K

As for the U.K. version, the obverse features a portrait of Elizabeth II. Her portrait is a standard for all Elizabeth II coins.

The reverse depicts the Mayflower ship, sailing through the seas.

“These designs are yet another chapter in the long history of the United States Mint's commitment to producing stunning medallic art…”
— David J. Ryder
United States Mint Official Website 

Conclusion

All in all, the Mayflower piece is very valuable, both as a coin and a historical tribute.

The Coin ID Scanner app has many other commemorative bits in its database. If you want to see more commemorative coins and identify them, the app could help you. 

Related Coin Value Guides