Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration: Southern Cross and Quest - 2022 Proof Fine Silver with Goldclad® £2 Coin - BAT

Pobjoy Mint is delighted to announce the release of a brand new £2 coin to celebrate 100 years since the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

The design features Carsten Borchgrevnik with the Southern Cross on the left, and Ernest Shackleton with the Quest on the right, with an iceberg in the background. The Norwegian flag and the Union Flag appear below the explorers, with the Coat of Arms of the British Antarctic Territory appearing below the flags. Issued on behalf of the British Antarctic Territory the coin has been produced in Bi-metal and Proof Fine Silver with Goldclad®. The obverse of the coin features an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II produced exclusively by Pobjoy Mint.

During this Heroic Age, the Antarctic region was the focus of international efforts that resulted in intensive scientific and geographic exploration by many expeditions launched from several countries.  The common factor in these expeditions was the limited nature of the resources available to them before advances in transport and communication technologies revolutionised exploration.  Each expedition was therefore a feat of endurance that tested, and sometimes exceeded, the physical and mental limits of its personnel.  The “heroic” label, recognises the adversities that were overcome by these pioneers.