Dominica - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Dominica, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea alternatively considered the northernmost of the Windward Islands or the southernmost of the Leeward Islands has a total land area of 290 square miles and a population of around 73,000. Known as the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean", Dominica is known for its unspoiled natural beauty. The lush mountainous rain-forests is home of many rare plant, animal, and bird species. While parts of the western coastal regions receive very little rain, inland is not spared. Dominica's economy is heavily dependent on both tourism and agriculture.

Travel Resources:

December through May are the best time to visit the place. Visitors check out the Boiling Lake, Boeri lake,  Anse de Mai, Cabrits national Park, the numerous waterfalls etc. Bird watching and enjoyable hiking are another lure of the place. Dominica cuisine is predominantly creole flavored by spices found on the island. The national dish is mountain chicken (frog legs of the species Capaud).

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Dominica Bradt Travel Guide	978-1841622170	$17	General practical information followed by sections on Roseau, The Roseau Valley, The South, The Morne Trois Pitons National Park, The Carib Territory and the East, The North, Portsmouth and the Cabrits National Park, Morne Diablotin and the West, and the Layou and Pagua River Valley.
The Dominica Story: A History of the Island	978-0333627761	$75	The author, native Dominican Lennox Honychurch presents the history of the islands from its volcanic formation to 1994. The islands history, geography, ecology, folklore, and social customs are interleaved in a very readable book.
Dominica Grounded Adapter Plug Kit – GUB, GUD, and GUF	B001FDA8AS	$24

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Dominica were a set of three QV key types issues on May 4, 1874. The set (Scott #1 to #3) catalogs for around $1200 MNH and $250 used. This was followed by a sister set of six stamps in the same theme during the period from 1877 to 1879. That set (Scott #4 to #9) is also expensive and catalog for around $700 MNH and $175 used. Surcharge overprints with error variety such as double overprints, inverted overprints of these stamps exist and they fetch a big premium. The first original issue was a set of ten stamps released in 1903. The set (Scott #25 to #34) catalogs for around $225 MNH and $350 used. The design shows the landscape of Roseau, the capital in different colors and denominations. The highest value in the set is a King Edward VII key type. It is the most expensive stamp in the set fetching around $100 MNH and $150 used. Reissues of this set along with a few KGV and Seal of Colony designs were the stamp issues of Dominican Republic until around 1938. Many of these sets are expensive with the higher values fetching a big premium and the lower values going for a few dollars.

Dominica released a set of fourteen stamps between 1938 and 1947 showing local scenes with the KGVI portrait on the left inset. The set (Scott #97 to #110) catalogs for around $60 MNH or used. The designs include Fresh Water Lake, Layou River, Picking Limes, and Boiling Lake. Boiling Lake is the world’s second largest boiling lake - as the youngest mountain in the Lesser Antilles, Dominica is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity. Dominica is renowned for its pristine natural beauty and has earned it the nickname “Nature Isle of the Caribbean”.

Other issues of Dominica enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of fifteen stamps released on July 1, 1951 showing local scenes. The set (Scott #122 to #136) catalogs for around $45 MNH and $60 used. The designs show KGVI, drying cocoa, carib baskets, lime plantation, picking oranges, bananas, botanical gardens, drying vanilla beans, Fresh Water Lake, Layou River, and Boiling Lake.
2. A set of seven stamps released on September 1, 1975 shows ships that have a relation to Dominican history. The set (Scott #434 to #440) catalogs for around $12 MNH and $9 used. The designs show Royal Mail Ship Yare, Royal Mail Ship Thames, Canadian National S.S. Lady Nelson, C.N. S.S. Lady Rodney, Harrison Line M.V. Statesman, Geest Line M.V. Geestcape, and Geest Line M.V. Geeststar.
3. A set of four stamps released in May of 1984 in the Local Birds theme. The set (Scott #827 to #830) catalogs for around $40 MNH or Used. The designs show plumbeous warbler, imperial parrot, blue-headed hummingbird, and red-necked parrot. The imperial parrot (sisserou parrot) is the national bird and is featured on the national flag. Because of its lush mountainous rainforests, Dominica is home to many birds and other animal species, many of them rare.
4. A set of eight stamps and two souvenir sheets released on August 12, 1991 in the World Landmarks theme. The set (Scott #1358 to #1365, #1366-#1367) catalogs for around $30 MNH or used. The designs show Empire State Building, Kremlin, Buckingham Palace, Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, Colosseum of Italy, Pyramids, Tower of Pisa – Galileo demonstrating laws of physics, Great Wall of China and Emperor Shi Huang Ti. 

Numismatic Profile:

Modern Coinage started with the issue of a 4 Dollar Copper-Nickel coin in 1970. The F.A.O. commemorative coin is a part of a group of coins issued by the following countries: Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts, St Lucia, and St Vincent. The UNC goes for around $40. Dominica has issued a number of commemorative coins with low mintage over the years.

Numismatic items of Dominica include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$40 and up	FAO commemorative UNC from 1970 start around $40. Commemorative Silver Proofs from the 1970s onward start around $100.
Paper Money	$10 and up	Common UNCs starts around $10. Queen-Ship-Turtle UNCs start around $20 and go into the 100s for high values.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Creole dollies, spices, rum, tobacco and quality baskets are items that visitors take away with them.



Last Updated: 12/2015.