Grenada - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Grenada, an island country consisting of the island of Granada along with six other islands in the Caribbean Sea located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago and northeast of Venezuela has a total land area of 132.8 square miles and a population of over 110,000. Grenada is known as the "Island of Spice" for its production and export of spices such as nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice, orange peels to much of the western world.. Tourism and agriculture are the main sectors of the economy, which took a mighty toll during the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. These are now on the mend and Grenada along with other Caribbean nations hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Travel Resources:

November through May are tourist friendly with rain keeping away. Conventional beach and water sports are still the leading contenders in tourism, but ecotourism is slowly on the rise. Carnival, which happens in August is a very popular event in Grenada when steel drum contests and parades takes place. Indigenous cuisine is a colorful fusion of seafood and tubers laced with spices and coconut milk. The national dish ‘ile dung’ is truly unique.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique – Bradt Travel Guide	978-1841622743	$17	A good introduction with background, practical information, and activities and special interest sections covering 90 pages followed by section on St George’s, The Southwest Peninsula, Gouyave, Grand Etang and the West, Grenville, Grand Etang, and the Southeast, Sauteurs, Mt St Catherine and the North, and Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Grenada, Isle of Spice Map by UK Ordnance Survey	B001KWAOPS	$16	Topographic survey map. South-west Peninsula at 1:25,000 scale and a street plan of St. George’s at 1:10,000 scale.
Grenada Grounded Adapter Plug Kit – GUB, GUD, and GUF	B001FDC9F0	$24

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Grenada were a set of two stamps released in 1861 depicting Queen Victoria. The set (Scott #1 to #2) catalogs for around $1100 mint and around $160 used. The island was ceded to Great Britain by the French following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. It became a crown colony in 1877. The few issues until 1875 used the same design in different colors and denominations. Those stamps are also sought after and valuations start close to $100 for mint. Surcharge overprints on revenue stamps portraying QV debut in 1875 and continued through 1883. These stamps go for even more of a premium than the first issues. The most valuable among them are a set of varieties (Scott #18 and #19 orange and green) issued in 1883. The former catalogs for around $11,000 while the latter catalogs for around half that. A few QV key types and varieties on those were the primary stamp issues of Grenada till 1897. All those sets and varieties are valued in the hundreds.

Grenada released a stamp on August 15th 1898 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of the Island by Columbus. The stamp is sought after and is valued in the $15 range for mint and around half that for used. There is a variety in bluish paper that is valued at around $40 mint and around $50 used. King Edward VII (KEVII) and King George V (KGV) key types along with a Seal of the Colony design were the primary stamp issues of Grenada till 1934. A KEVII set (Scott #58 to #67) that catalogs for around $500 mint and close to $800 used is the most valuable set during this period. The first original set was a set of ten stamps released on October 23, 1934 showing primarily showing local scenes. The set (Scott #114 to #123) catalogs for around $125 MNH and around $100 used. The designs show Grand Anse Beach, Seal of the Colony, View of Grand Etang, and View of St. George’s Harbor. Grand Anse beach in St. George’s has developed into a very popular tourist area with shopping centers and hotels. Grand Etang is a crater lake (average depth 20 feet) formed an extinct volcano sitting 1700 feet above sea level.

Other issues of Grenada enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A long set of thirteen stamps released between 1953 and 1959 in the Queen Elizabeth II theme. The set (Scott #171 to #183) catalogs for around $40 MNH and $30 used. The set features different colors, denominations, and perforations.
2. A set of two stamps released on July 26, 1976 to mark the World Cup Cricket won by the West Indies Team in 1975. The set (Scott #747 to #787) catalogs for around $3 MNH or used. The designs show the map of West Indies, bats, wicket, and ball and a photo of the Prudential World Cup. West Indies is a multi-national cricket team from 15 Caribbean countries of the Commonwealth. They were a dominant team in cricket throughout the 60's and 70's. Many sets (Scott #917 to #920, #2411 to #2414, #2459 to #2462, #2968 to #2969, etc) were released over the years and most of them catalog for a slight premium compared to regular issues from the same periods.
3. A long set of nineteen stamps released on September 9, 1980 in the Canoes theme. The set (Scott #1002 to #1020) catalogs for around $30 MNH and $25 used. The designs show boat building, small workboat, “Santa Maria”, West Indiaman, “Orinoco”, schooner, trimaran, “Petite Amie”, Spice Island cruising yacht, fishing pirogue, harbor police launch, Grand Anse speedboat, “Seimstrand”, “Ariadne”, 3-master schooner, “Geestide” banana boat, “Cunard Countess” cruise ship, Rumrunner, “Statendam”, and Coast Guard patrol boat.
4. A set of eight stamps and two souvenir sheets (Scott #1887 to #1894 and #1895 to #1896) released on September 17, 1990 in the Crustaceans theme. The set catalogs for around $35 MNH or used. The designs on the set show coral crab, smoothtail spiny lobster, flamestreaked box crab, spotted swimming crab, Sally lightfoot rock crab, spotted spiny lobster, longarm spiny lobster, and Caribbean spiny lobster. The souvenir sheets show Spanish lobster and copper lobster.

Numismatic Profile:

The first coins of Grenada were cut and counter-marked Spanish Colonial Reales issued around 1787. The early issues were one-eleventh of the 8 Reales with an incuse G counter-mark. In 1814, half, one-third, and one-sixth cuts with a TR counter-mark debut in higher denomination. The issues catalog well into the 100s in VF and 1000s and 1000s in VF for higher denominations. Grenada currently uses East Caribbean Dollar as its currency, although a few commemorative local issues have also been released.

Numismatic items of Grenada include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$40 and up	The 4 Dollars 1970 FAO coin in UNC starts around $40. Proofs start around $75. 1988 $100 Silver Tropical Bird Proofs and other high value proofs go into the 100s.
Paper Money	$25 and up	$5 UNCs of the East Caribbean States with Grenada inscription from the 2000s starts around $25. High Value Queen Turtle Ship issues from the 1990s go into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Wood carvings, painting, jewelry are popular with visitors.



Last Updated: 12/2015.