Tiny Birds of Paradise

By Dan Lewis | Wed, 14 Nov 2007

The pace on Turks and Caicos Islands is leisurely, but not for some of its small, native creatures.

The three hummingbird-themed proof silver crowns issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands government in 1995 are among my favorite sets of non-circulating, legal-tender issues (NCLTs). Turks and Caicos comprises eight islands with a 195-square-mile landmass, 575 miles southeast of Miami. Discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1512, the islands were not inhabited until 1678 when Bermudians settled there to collect salt deposits on the flats. In 1799 the islands were granted representation by the Bahamas.

This status didn't last: In the mid 1800s, inhabitants petitioned and became a separate British colony under Jamaica. In 1959 they became part of the Federation of the West Indies, a short-lived entity that was dissolved in 1962, at which time Turks and Caicos reverted to a Crown Colony.

Today, the island's main revenue sources are tourism and offshore financial institutions. Among the most attractive sights are 230 miles of white, sandy beaches surrounded by crystal-clear waters. Blessed with one of the world's longest coral reefs, Turks and Caicos has become a premier diving destination. Although the island's official currency is the U.S. dollar, it also uses the TCI crown.

Three of the island's tiny avian residents are featured on coins. The Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus) is the most abundant hummingbird in the Lesser Antilles and is Jamaica's national bird. Sporting tailfeathers 6 to 7 inches long, the birds produce a distinctive, humming sound while feeding on flower nectar or pursuing flying insects, a main dietary staple.

The Magenta-Throated Woodstar hummingbird (Calliphlox bryantae) is found in the Caribbean and Central America. A white collar separates its unmistakable, magenta throat from a green chest and flanks. It has white rump patches, and its long, forked tail has distinctive, black tips. Blessed with natural beauty, it was shortchanged when it came to singing? its voice is a spluttering gurgle.

The Purple-Throated Carib hummingbird (Eulampis jugularis) is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Almost totally black at first glance, the throat shines a deep purple under the right light. The wings become an iridescent, emerald green, and parts of the tail appear blue?truly a spectacular show by Mother Nature. Each colorful coin bears a 25-crown denomination, measures 63mm in diameter and was minted from 5 troy ounces of .999 fine silver.