2016-12-06 Tue

The 100th anniversary of the Endurance Expedition was celebrated with the issue of special coins on 17th November by the government and treasury of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) was the first to traverse across Antarctica and reach South Georgia on 5th November 1914.

The reverse of the 2017 Pobjoy Mint coin features the tall ship Endurance stuck in the ice and the crew pulling the sledge. Other inscriptions include IMPERIAL TRANS-ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION, the coin’s denomination of £2. The obverse features the Mint’s exclusive Queen Elizabeth II portrait. The mintage limit of the £2 Cupro-nickel 28 g BU coin is 10,000 and that of the £2 .925 silver 28 Proof coin is 2,000.

The coins are struck four times for achieving high-relief and a brilliant mirror background. Th coins come in special packaging along with a certificate of authenticity.