Falklands 2009 Issue Honours Darwin

[Bimat]

Falkland Islands Launch Bicentennial Charles Darwin Coins

Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a fabulous new issue on behalf of the Falkland Islands to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Darwin.

Born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire in February 1809, Charles Darwin was born into a wealthy and well-connected family. Darwin had initially planned to study medicine at Edinburgh University but later switched to studying Divinity at Cambridge.

Best known for his theory on evolution, Charles Darwin was fundamental in discovering how all species of life developed from a central ancestor, changing the way we think about how we came to be as humans. He was a naturalist who searched the globe for new species of flora and fauna and he worked on his theory for 20 years, publishing the famous, 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'.

His breakthrough came when he visited the Galapagos Islands off the coast of South America. Darwin noticed that each island had its own form of Finch which were closely related but different to each other. His theory was that humans were simply another form of mammal developed over thousands of years, possibly from Apes.

At a time when most Europeans believed the world had been created in seven days by God, as described in the bible, his ideas were initially perceived as controversial. However, Darwin's ideas now form the foundation of modern biology.

In 1831, Charles Darwin joined a five-year scientific expedition on HMS Beagle, he visited the Falkland Islands in 1833-1834 and the settlement Darwin is named in his honour. Charles Darwin died in 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Coin Specifications and Design

The design on the reverse of the coin is a classic portrait of Darwin with his name clearly written above his image and the obverse of the coin bears a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS FSNAD.

Available in Proof Fine 999.9 Gold, Proof Sterling Silver and Uncirculated Cupro Nickel and being carefully struck four times to produce a glorious finish, the design is sculpted in striking relief.

To view this coin please please visit www.pobjoy.com.

Metal   Diameter                                          Weight           Issue Limit
Proof Fine 999.9 Gold – 1/64 Crown   11.00mm   1/2gms           5,000
Proof Sterling Silver – Crown   38.60mm   28.28gms                 10,000
Unc. Cupro Nickel – Crown   38.60mm   28.28gms                Unlimited

About Pobjoy Mint Ltd.

The Pobjoy family have been associated with fine metalwork since the Middle Ages. The Company was recently granted permission to use the family Coat of Arms in which the Medieval Popinjay is the central motif.

Over the past three centuries, the Company has been involved in many diverse fields, but they have always been involved in metal, both base and precious.

For the past 100 years the Company has been deeply involved in the development and manufacture of coins, medals and tokens.

Source : Coin News

[BC Numismatics]

Aditya,
  The Pobjoy Mint is notorious for its medal-coin issues,especially for Gibraltar (which no longer uses the Pobjoy Mint),the Isle of Man,the British Antarctic Territory,the British Indian Ocean Territory,& the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands.

I cannot believe that the Falkland Islands Government has allowed the Pobjoy Mint to take the Isle of Man approach to promote the islands' numismatics,albeit,with subjects not connected to the Falkland Islands.

The Falkland Islands are the only place in the Antarctic region that has a permanent population,as the Falkland Islands is a British colony (or confusingly,a 'British Overseas Territory').

Here's an article about the Falkland Islands; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands .

The Falkland Islands is still the subject of an illegal claim by Argentina.Since the Falkland Islands War of 1982,the Argentinians have tried to bully the Falkland Islanders into accepting Argentinian sovereignty.The Falkland Islanders,like the Gibraltarians (in relation to Spain),have fiercely said 'No',as the Argentinians are still regarded with suspicion by the Falkland Islanders,& rightfully so,considering that Argentina subjected the islands to an illegal occupation for 3 months.

Aidan.

[Figleaf]

Confusingly, Pabitra Saha comes up with a different reverse design and date...

Peter

[translateltd]

Confusingly, Pabitra Saha comes up with a different reverse design and date...

Peter

2007 was the 125th anniversary of Darwin's death - maybe that was the reason for this second coin.