This piece was minted on the 60th anniversary of Trinidad & Tobago’s Independence. One of the most famous exports from T&T is the Steel Pan…it is the only acoustic instrument invented in the 21st century, but one which has origins dating back to the 1700’s. It is an instrument born of resistance and rebellion and is truly emblematic of the people of Trinidad & Tobago. The steel pan is also closely associated with Carnival celebrations, and therefore is a great source of national pride.

This illustration was done by Nicholas Huggins, the artist behind the 2022 Google Doodle which also celebrates the Steel Pan. You can view it here: https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-steelpan

This piece was illustrated in 2022. It shows a man playing the Double Guitar Pan in the Queen’s Park Savannah with the Northern Range in the background.