The obverse
Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II
The obverse carries the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, together with TUVALU, the 2021 date, one-ounce silver specification and TVD $1 denomination.
The 2021 issue
Red Flag Fleet: coin, pirate and vessel
This is the 3rd documented standard Black Flag release. Coin facts and the reverse depiction are presented separately from the historical record behind the subject.
The reverse depicts Ching Shih before a formation of ships, with a skull suggested by the breaking waves. Lucas Bowers is credited with the reverse design.
The published figure is a maximum of 15,000; no final declared total is shown.
- Release position
- 3 of 6 documented releases
- Pirate subject
- Ching Shih
- Fleet subject
- Red Flag Fleet
01
02
03
History & legend
Ching Shih and Red Flag Fleet
Ching Shih became a leading figure in a large South China Sea pirate confederation. The historical subject is a fleet organization, not one named vessel, and her later negotiated surrender helped distinguish her fate from many Atlantic pirates. English-language sources use several romanizations and fleet labels. The page retains Ching Shih as the series spelling while noting Zheng Yi Sao as an established alternative.
- Release position
- 3 / 6
- Pirate subject
- Ching Shih
- Fleet subject
- Red Flag Fleet
Design story
The 2021 reverse: Red Flag Fleet
The coin presents Ching Shih before a formation of ships, with a skull suggested by the breaking waves. The BLACK FLAG inscription, named subject, silver legend and P mintmark identify the release. Lucas Bowers is credited with the reverse design.
The reverse
Red Flag Fleet
The reverse is a modern coin design centered on Red Flag Fleet and Ching Shih; it should not be read as a contemporary visual record of the historical people or vessels.
Full specifications
At a glance
Available dimensions, artists and issue details for this annual coin are listed below.
- Denomination
- TVD $1
- Silver content
- 1 troy ounce
- Fineness
- .9999
- Metal
- Silver
- Gross weight
- 31.107 g
- Diameter
- 40.9 mm
- Thickness
- 3.5 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Finish
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU)
- Authentication
- Not documented in the listed item-level sources
- Legal-tender country
- Tuvalu
- Mint
- The Perth Mint
- Obverse portrait
- Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II
- Obverse artist
- Ian Rank-Broadley
- Reverse designer
- Lucas Bowers
Mintage & issue
15,000
MaximumThe published number is a maximum production limit. A final declared mintage is not currently listed.
- Maximum mintage
- 15,000
- Issue status
- Maximum
- Source date
- 2026-08-14
This release in the series
See the issue in sequence
Compare the pirate and vessel subjects immediately around this release.
Sources
References for this annual coin
Product and numismatic references cover the coin; museum or historical references cover the pirate and vessel context.
This section covers only the standard 1 oz .9999 silver Brilliant Uncirculated coin for each documented Black Flag release. Antiqued, 5 oz, gold, proof, coloured, graded, MintDirect and presentation-format products remain separate objects.
- Explaining Tuvalu's role in modern coinsThe Perth Mint · 2026-08-14
- Currency ActGovernment of Tuvalu · 2026-08-14
- 2021 Tuvalu 1 oz Silver Black Flag — The Red Flag FleetAPMEX · 2026-08-14
- 1 Dollar — Black Flag: Red Flag FleetNumista · 2026-08-14
- Were there female pirates?Royal Museums Greenwich · 2026-08-14
Image credit
Obverse and reverse images: APMEX · 2021 standard 1 oz BU coin.