BAT: Antarctic Exploration 2 pounds series 2022

[eurocoin]

Pobjoy Mint has launched the first coin in a series of the British Antarctic Territory to commemorate the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. More specifically it commemorates the Southern Cross Expedition of 1898-1900. The coin is available in base-metal with an issue limit of 2022 pieces and gold-plated silver with an issue limit of 195 pieces. The coin is currently only available for pre-order and will be sent out from May 17. In total 6 coins will be part of the series. The next release in the series will be out in June.

[eurocoin]

The second coin in the series is now available for pre-order in basemetal and silver proof. The piece commemorates the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-1904.

[Deeman]

Pobjoy's description says that bagpiper Gilbert Kerr was photographed serenading a penguin.

The poor bird was tied to a buried bucket and had no option but to listen. Then it was mercifully killed and eaten.

[Deeman]

Some background for the first coin in the series

The Southern Cross Expedition, named after the vessel, otherwise known as the British Antarctic Expedition was the first British Antarctic venture, led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink (spelt correctly ending 'ink' and not 'nik' as per Pobjoy), who had previously sailed to Cape Adare in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica on a Norwegian whaling expedition. Following this he considered that it was feasible to over-winter at Cape Adare, arranged funding from a wealthy London publisher and so what became the 'British Antarctic Expedition' was born, despite the fact there were only three British nationals amongst the largely Norwegian crew. Seventy-five dogs were taken, the first time that dogs had been used in Antarctica.

The ship reached Cape Adare on 17 Feb 1899 and work began to move stores ashore and build two huts (which still stand) for ten winterers to live in for the next year, which Borchgrevink called the site Camp Ridley after his mother. One hut was the living quarters and the other was used for storage. When the ship sailed to winter in the north on 1 Mar 1899, the wintering party of ten men at Cape Adare became the most isolated people on earth.

As the winter approached so the animals around the hut disappeared, seals, penguins and other birds went north to escape the severe Antarctic winter. The men settled into activities and routines of meteorological and magnetic observations, the collection of biological and geological specimens and surveys along the coast.
   
Many lessons on how-to-winter were learned, many of them the hard way. Draughts made the hut cold to begin with, so these were blocked which later led to near asphyxiation of some men from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of the lack of ventilation. Excessive heat was a problem when the stove was burning for cooking. At one point a fire from a candle left burning in a bunk scorched one wall of the hut, this led to Borchgrevink assembling survival provisions and tents in case another fire should leave them without shelter, food and equipment, months away from the next ships visit.

On 28 Jan 1900, the SS Southern Cross arrived early in the morning, the sleepers all awoke and realised their isolation was over. Theirs was the first ever wintering party on land in Antarctica.

[MCz]

Third coin issued earlier in September:

[MCz]

There will be also fourth coin in the series issued in October, than the series will be stopped. See below the message sent to customers by Pobjoy Mint:

Unfortunately, due to the passing of The Queen this collection has now been cut short and we can announce that the last coin will be number 4 and it will feature the Antarctic ship on behalf of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Therefore, the set is now a 4-coin-collection with the last coin due in October 2022.

[eurocoin]

There will be also fourth coin in the series issued in October, than the series will be stopped. See below the message sent to customers by Pobjoy Mint:

Unfortunately, due to the passing of The Queen this collection has now been cut short and we can announce that the last coin will be number 4 and it will feature the Antarctic ship on behalf of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Therefore, the set is now a 4-coin-collection with the last coin due in October 2022.

What a shame that this relevant series will be cut short, and what a büllshit reason. I assume that the series is not selling well and that that is the real reason why it won't be continued.

[eurocoin]

The last coin in the series has now also been released. It commemorates the Swedish Antarctic Expedition.

[MCz]

Interesting fact: two first coins were issued by British Antarctic Teritory but the last two by South Georgia and South Sandwich.
I noticed this already when my coins arrived and I did photos to add last two coins to Numista.