Queen Elizabeth II 25th Anniversary Coronation First Day Cover, Barbuda postmarked on June 2, 1978.
Barbuda
Lying 25 miles north of Antigua in the Leeward Islands, Barbuda is a flat coral island of about 62 square miles. Early occupation of the island was unsuccessful due to raids by Carib Indians, but it was settled in the 17th century after being granted by Charles II to the governor of the Leeward Islands, Sir Christopher Codrington. Codrington is chiefly remembered for his high-handedness and because (having been given the island to breed strong slaves) one out of every two islanders bear his name. The islanders' income depends on fishing, lobster catching and tourism, Barbuda being famed for hunting wild pig, guinea fowl and deer. The main crop is Sea Island cotton.
75c — St. Edward's Crown. Like the Imperial State Crown, St. Edward's Crown belongs to the sovereign. It is a copy of Edward the Confessor's crown, the original having been destroyed by Parliament as a symbol of Charles I's absolutist rule. Weighing about 51bs, the Crown consists of a circlet set with rosettes of large stones surrounded by diamonds and alternate fleurs-de-lis and crosses paty. The two golden arches, insignia of a ruler, are edged with pearls and sur- mounted by an orb. It was first used for Charles II's Coronation in 1661.
$1.50 — Queen Mary's Crown. Containing eight ogee arches, tapering upwards, this imposing crown is set with many diamonds, among which can be counted two of the 'Star of Africa' stones cut from the Cullinan, and was once adorned by the famous Koh-i-noor, now to be seen in the Queen Mother's Crown. The Crown was made by the Crown Jewellers for the Coronation of George V and Queen Mary on June 22nd, 1911.
$2.50 — Queen Consort's Crown. Set with diamonds and pearls, but no coloured stones, the Queen Consort's Crown was made for the wife of James II. It is designed to be worn on top of the head, not to fit it, an effect which can be seen in the statue of Queen Anne outside St. Pauls, and similar to that of Queen Victoria's Crown worn for the Jubilee coinage of 1887. Mary of Modena was not a popular queen, and fled to France followed by James, in 1688.
