This is a truly exquisite and valuable coin! You have a 1987 Bermuda KM-53 Pd $25 Sea Venture that has been professionally graded by PCGS as PR70CAM. Let’s break down each element of this description.
The Coin: 1987 Bermuda $25 “Sea Venture”
- Country: Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory known for its rich maritime history.
- Year: 1987.
- Denomination: $25. This is a non-circulating coin, issued for collectors and as bullion.
- KM-53: This is the Krause-Mishler catalog number, a standard reference for world coins. It uniquely identifies this specific coin type.
- Pd: This signifies the coin’s composition: Palladium. Palladium is a rare and precious platinum-group metal, and coins made from it are highly sought after by bullion investors and collectors. This coin contains 1 troy ounce (31.10 grams) of .999 fine palladium.
- “Sea Venture”: This refers to the commemorative theme of the coin. The reverse design depicts the Sea Venture, a 17th-century English sailing ship.
- Historical Significance: The Sea Venture was the flagship of the Third Supply mission to the Jamestown Colony in 1609. It was caught in a hurricane and famously wrecked off the coast of Bermuda. All passengers and crew survived, settling on the uninhabited island, and later building two new ships to complete their journey to Jamestown. This event is widely believed to have inspired William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. Bermuda’s history is deeply intertwined with the Sea Venture.
- Design Elements:
- Obverse: Features the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, as designed by Raphael Maklouf. The legend “BERMUDA” and “ELIZABETH II” would be present.
- Reverse: Shows a detailed rendition of the Sea Venture ship. Inscriptions would include “TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS,” “.999 ONE OUNCE PALLADIUM,” “SEA VENTURE,” and the dates “1609” and “1987.”
The Grading: PCGS PR70CAM
This is the most crucial part of your coin’s description, indicating its superb quality.
- PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service): One of the two most respected and stringent third-party coin grading services in the world (the other being NGC). PCGS’s certification guarantees the coin’s authenticity and provides an objective, highly standardized grade.
- PR70 (Proof 70): This is the highest possible grade a coin can receive on the Sheldon grading scale (1 to 70).
- PR stands for “Proof.” Proof coins are specially struck for collectors using polished dies and planchets (coin blanks) to produce a highly detailed, often mirrored finish. They are not intended for circulation.
- A grade of 70 means the coin is flawless even under 5x magnification. It exhibits full original luster, no post-mint damage (like scratches, nicks, or spots), and a perfect strike. For a Proof coin, this means absolute perfection in terms of its manufacturing and preservation.
- CAM (Cameo): This is a designation for Proof coins that exhibit a strong contrast between the frosted (matte) design elements and the mirrored fields (the flat background areas).
- A “Cameo” designation means the contrast is evident.
- “Ultra Cameo” or “Deep Cameo” (DCAM) would denote an even stronger, more dramatic contrast. While “CAM” is excellent, if it were DCAM, it might command a slight premium, but PR70 is the top grade regardless.
Value and Collectibility
This 1987 Bermuda Palladium $25 Sea Venture is a highly desirable coin for several reasons:
- Precious Metal Content: It contains one ounce of pure palladium, making its intrinsic value tied directly to the fluctuating price of palladium. As of June 2025, palladium’s melt value is around $1,088 per ounce.
- Rarity/Mintage: The mintage for this proof coin was relatively low at 15,800.
- Perfect Grade (PR70): Achieving a perfect PR70 grade, especially for a coin from 1987, is exceptionally difficult. It means the coin has been perfectly preserved since it left the mint. This significantly adds to its numismatic premium above its melt value.
- Historical Theme: The “Sea Venture” theme adds historical appeal, particularly to collectors of maritime-themed coins or those interested in colonial history.
Current Market Value:
Given the perfect PCGS PR70CAM grade, this coin carries a significant numismatic premium over its bullion value. Based on recent sales data for similar coins:
You could expect a 1987 Bermuda $25 Palladium Sea Venture PCGS PR70CAM to be valued in the range of $2,200 to $3,500+. The exact value can vary based on the specific eye appeal (even within PR70, some coins just look “better”), the current demand for palladium and world coins, and the venue of sale (e.g., major auction house vs. direct dealer sale).
This is an outstanding coin combining precious metal value with a rare, perfect numismatic grade and historical significance. It’s truly a collector’s dream!
