Description:
The Pobjoy Mint commemorates the heroic story of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) with a silver £2 commemorative coin honoring Sir Ernest Shackleton and the heroic crew of the three-masted barquentine Endurance. The goal of the expedition was to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent but after the Endurance was beset in ice and sank, The Endurance’s crew had to brave harsh conditions, while Shackleton and five men made an open boat journey of 800 miles to South Georgia, where they were able to mount a rescue of the remaining men and bring them home without loss of life.
The design is also being struck in Cupro-Nickel. In Silver, the mintage has been set at 10,000 pieces; in Cupro-Nickel: 50,000.
Obverse:
Ian Rank-Broadley’s classic effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Rank-Bradley’s initials IRB are located just beneath the bust truncation. Wrapping around the coin, just inside of the rim, is the inscription BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY 2015.
Reverse:
To the left sits a portrait of Sir Ernest Shackleton. To the right, Endurance is stuck in the Antarctic ice. The denomination “£2” is inscribed to the left of the ship’s masts. Wrapping around the right side of the coin is the inscription CENTENARY OF THE IMPERIAL TRANS-ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. The initials PM (Pobjoy Mint) are located to the right of the ship, atop the ice.
Designer(s): Since 1998, Ian Rank-Broadley’s fourth effigy of Queen Elizabeth has served with distinction as the obverse for coins of the UK and the Commonwealth. View Designers Profile.
Coin Specifications:
| Country: | British Antarctic Territory |
| Year Of Issue: | 2015 |
| Denomination: | £2 |
| Mint Mark: | |
| Mintage: | 50,000 (CuproNickel); 10,000 (Silver) |
| Alloy: | CuproNickel; .925 Silver |
| Weight: | 38.6 grams |
| Diameter: | 28.28 mm |
| OBV Designer | Ian Rank-Broadley |
| REV Designer | Pobjoy Mint |
| Quality: | Proof |
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