SYMBOLISM
Front Side
The image depicted on the US ARMY SOUTH insignia is a Spanish caravel, which bore the red cross of the Order of Christ as many Spanish and Portuguese ships did. Columbus traveled along the north coast of modern-day Panama on his fourth voyage at the start of the 16th century.
A similar image of a caravel appears on the front of the coin, with the cross on the topsail replaced by a skull and red crossbones to vaguely mimic the cross, but represent the toxicity of the herbicides introduced along the Canal Zone.
The wide orange band that appears behind the ship on the front of the coin is also intended to represent the herbicides introduced along the Canal Zone.
The text around the front of the coin is an homage to the history of the Caribbean Sea in particular. While it overtly refers to barrels of rum, which offers images of piracy (which occurred at the same time as Columbus' fourth expedition and for three centuries afterward) the phrase foreshadows the image on the reverse side.
Back Side
The back side of the coin is a representation of the lid of an olive drab transportation drum of the same herbicide as was commonly applied to the Canal Zone. Customs documents record that barrels of herbicides were shipped to the isthmus from the United States since at least 1958.
The artwork was inspired by images like this photo. Note that even the bungs have been reproduced on the coin. Legibility was a concern; reproducing a 2' lid as a 1.75" coin required some careful edits and emphasis to help convey the idea.
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