2011 Cutty Sark, 20 Roubles - Sailing Ships Series: Coin #5

Sailing Ships – Coin 5 of 6

“Cutty Sark” is the fourth coin issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus in the “Sailing Ships” series. The series of commemorative coins has been devoted to the most magnificent and recognizable ships. Their unique charm and excellence have been represented on the coins in a dynamic way. Coins are produced using the integral HOLOGRAM technology with an image of the wind rose. The series includes the following coins: Sedov (2008); Dar Pomorza (2009), Amerigo Vespucci (2010) and USS Constitution (2010).

The Cutty Sark is the world’s sole surviving extreme clipper, a type of vessel that was the highest development of the fast commercial sailing ship. She is internationally appreciated for her beauty and is one of the most famous ships in the world. Her fine lines – a considerable part of her appeal – are defined by her frames. She is the best surviving example of construction technique and of which she is of exceptional quality. As a tea clipper, she is tangible evidence of the importance of tea in 19th century trade and cultural life.

Obverse: In the upper part of the coin – the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Belarus and an inscription: РЭСПУБЛIКА БЕЛАРУСЬ (Republic of Belarus). In the central part – laser made hologram depicting wind rose. In the background – navigation map. Along the rim – the year of issue (2011) and the face value: 20 РУБЛЁЎ (20 Roubles).

Reverse: In the center – an image of Cutty Sark with a sea skyline in the background. Below it – a miniature of the ship (side view). On the right side – the inscription: Cutty Sark.

Designer: Dobrochna Surajewska

The Cutty Sark is one of only three ships in London on the Core Collection of the National Historic Ships Register. She was designed by Hercules Linton and built in 1869 at Dumbarton, Scotland, by the firm of Scott & Linton. The original keel was rock elm and 17 inches (43 cm) thick, but was replaced in the 1920s with one constructed from 15 inches (38 cm) pitch pine. Her length was 212 feet 5 inches (64.74 m) with a draft of 21 feet (6.40 m) and a deadweight of 921 tons.

She was named after Cutty Sark (Scots: petticoat), the nickname of the fictional character Nannie Dee in Robert Burns’ 1791 poem Tam o' Shanter. In the poem the witch wore a linen sark that she had been given as a child, which explains why it was cutty, or in other words far too short, for her. The erotic sight of her dancing in such a short undergarment caused Tam to cry out "Weel done, Cutty-sark", which subsequently became a well-known catchphrase. We do not know why the name was chosen by Jock Willis, ship's captain; he also named one of his other ships the Halloween, the title of another Burns poem. Although "cutty sark" was a little unusual, it certainly suits a sleek, swift tea clipper, giving her an air of magic and mystery.

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