Every Christmas brings its share of surprises—some wrapped in paper, some in sentiment. But in December 2024, I unwrapped something that felt like it had time-traveled straight from a Spanish galleon: two battered coins, gifted by my friend Wayne along with a certificate signed by an anthropologist named Frank Bergevin. The note was simple: “Authentic Spanish Cobs and Maravedis, circa 1600–1700 AD.” I blinked. Then I stared. Then I did what any curious collector would do—I started digging.

I recently stumbled upon what can only be described as philatelic gold—a magnificent set of Bahamas stamps celebrating the rogues and heroes of the Golden Age of Piracy. Now, I'll freely admit that pirates have held me in their thrall since childhood, so discovering stamps that marry my twin obsessions of postal history and buccaneering was rather like finding a perfectly preserved treasure map in the attic. But this particular quartet isn't just thematically appealing; it features some of the most exquisite artwork I've encountered on any stamp. Each piece is a miniature masterpiece, filled with detail and layers of depth.