Niue: Sheriff Pat Garrett Features on Third Silver Coin in Imaginative Wild West Collector series

Remembered as the man who infamously killed ‘Billy the Kid’, Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett (1850 – 1908) was an American Old West lawman, sometime-bartender and customs agent. Were it not for the exploits and notorious crime spree of Billy the Kid, Garrett would have most likely lived much of his life in relative obscurity. In November 1880, Garrett was appointed Lincoln County, New Mexico Sheriff and with this task, came the responsibility to end the exploits and lawlessness of Billy the Kid. One way or another, apprehension of this outlaw was top priority on Garrett’s list as well as being determined to end the storm of lawlessness and violence that continued in south-eastern New Mexico for the last two decades.

Just one month after Garrett’s appointment, the territory’s Governor posted a $500 reward on Billy the Kid – dead or alive. Garrett began the relentless pursuit of the outlaw, setting up many traps and ambushes to apprehend Billy, but the Kid was able to thwart each and every one. However, his luck was to run out and in December 1880, Garrett finally confronted Billy and his gang when they rode into Fort Sumner, New Mexico. One gang member was killed in the shoot-out and Billy was able to escape. A determined Garrett and his posse tracked the outlaws down to a settlement by the name of Stinking Springs and surrounded their hideout. After a several-day siege, the posse captured Billy the Kid and the rest of his gang. Billy was tried for his crimes and sentenced to hang in Lincoln, New Mexico, his sentence was to be carried out in May 1881. Billy managed to escape in April, killing two guards in the process. It was Garrett who caught up with this escaped outlaw once again in July 1881 hiding out on a ranch in Old Fort Sumner. Waiting in ambush and as Billy entered a darkened room, Garrett caught him off-guard with two shots from his revolver, killing him instantly. Billy the Kid was buried the next day in Fort Sumner’s cemetery and in a plot between two of his gang members killed in earlier shoot-outs.

Unfortunately for Garrett, and despite collecting the reward of $500 - equal in value to $15,000 today for capturing one of the most notorious outlaws, his personal fortunes after this apprehension took a turn for the worse. From ‘Hero of the hour’ to losing the next election for sheriff of Lincoln County, Garrett tried his hand at ranching as well as authoring a book about Billy the Kid which was published in 1882. Entitled The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid, the Noted Desperado of the Southwest, the book was not a great success as eight other books about the outlaw had already beat him to the press. Garrett’s final years were spent in Texas, appointed in 1901 by President Theodore Roosevelt as a United States Customs Collector at El Paso. After this appointment expired four years later, Garrett returned to ranching in Uvalde though his efforts were not as he had hoped. Repeated conflicts with neighbouring ranchers led Garrett to put his property up for sale which he was looking to finalise in February 1908. On the day of what was supposed to be the signing of sale papers, Garrett was himself ambushed by the proposed buyer of his ranch who shot and killed him. The man, Wayne Brazel was later tried and surprisingly acquitted of the crime. Controversy still exists over whether Garrett’s murder was a conspiracy to gain his land or if it was just simply a dispute with an irate Brazel.

The rectangular-shaped coins are produced by the New Zealand Mint at their facilities in Auckland on behalf of the Treasury of Niue. The obverse side features a recreated version of a publicity photograph of Pat Garrett just after he generated notoriety as having captured and killed Billy the Kid. As part of the design, the coin includes three strategically placed simulated ‘bullet holes’ for a touch of realism. The western-stylised text above Garret’s image reads SHERIFF PAT GARRETT and below is the name of the series WILD WEST which is placed on what appears to be an off-centre sign post. The reverse side includes the replicated official seal of the Government of Niue which is centred. The denomination TWO DOLLARS is shown above the seal and the year of release 2024 is placed below the crest.  

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom designed collector’s box, ideal for display and includes a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the online webshop of the New Zealand Mint.