Why are Key West natives considered Conchs?

The conch is featured on only one official coin.  That is the one dollar coin of the Bahamas.  A coin is defined as an official government disc retaining an official value of legal tender status.  There are several other discs which appear in the local market.  But they are neither official nor have legal tender status.  Correctly termed, they are “medals” of local unofficial issue.  Only the Bahamian $1 coin is legal tender and is officially a “coin.”  It is made up of solid silver and contains almost one-half ounce of pure silver.  It depicts the conch underwater with small sea life around it.  On the other side is the young queen Elizabeth II, titular head of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.  The oldest of these coins is at least 50 years old issued in 1966, the first year of issue of these coins.  Locally these are available in pendants, key chains and money clips.  They are available in both sterling and gold frames.  

Pronounced “Konk" as in Honk.  If pronounced conch as in haunch (as in venison) you know it is a tourist speaking.  

A conch is a marine gastropod mollusk of the Strombus genus.  It has a single foot which is composed of muscle tissue.

The foot is the “meat” of the conch.  In the Bahamas it is typically served fried as fritters, a ball with breadcrumbs and chopped conch meat.  It is considered by the Bahamians as a main dish and an aphrodisiac.  When cooked properly, it is even a sweet meat.  But from the outside it is very tough and unless it is properly prepared, it is very tough to eat.  Hence, Bahamians are very tough on the outside but are very sweet if treated properly.

Island folks from the 18th century (1700’s) were very mobile among the islands.  Although the Florida keys belonged to Spain, they were indeed part of the islands and archipelago of the northern Caribbean.

The British tradition of attempting to tax imported foodstuffs as they did with tea in Boston, was also applied to Bahamian residents.  Their attitude was like the Bostonians, so they reverted to their native food of conch, rather than pay taxes.  Hence they became known as “conchs.”   Key Westers and early residents of the Florida archipelago as a part of that same culture, considered themselves as Conchs as well.

Conchs are the perfect natural description for these locals, very tough on the outside, but sweet if you get to know them.  

As a mollusk, conchs can produce a pearl.  Although very rare, the queen conch also produces a pearl of extraordinary beauty.  Highly prized since the late 1800’s, today they are so rare they are sold by carat weight (like diamonds.)  Although the colors may vary from white to brown and even orange, the pink conch pearl is the preferred color.  The pink may have many different shades, but the best ones imitate the color of the lip of the shell, and also have rivulets of incredible iridescence.  However, the color is so delicate that if not handled properly, it can fade over time due to exposure to sunlight.  Therefore, it is called the “pearl of the night” because it is best worn after dark and when the colors show up most brilliantly.  Just like the pearls, the natives of both Key West and the Bahamas are rare and special people.

About Conch Jewelry