Sir Ernest Shackleton's Final Expedition: Quest- 2022 Unc. Cupro Nickel Diamond Finish 50 Pence Coin - SGA

The Pobjoy Mint series of 50 pence coins featuring historical ships has proven to be extremely popular and we are therefore delighted to announce the release of a further coin in the series on behalf of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

The coin features the schooner-rigged steamship Quest, which sailed from 1917 until sinking in 1962. Quest is best known as the polar exploration vessel of the Shackleton-Rowlett Expedition of 1921-1922. It was aboard this vessel that Sir Ernest Shackleton undertook his last expedition.

Shackelton’s final expedition originally intended to go to the Arctic to explore the Beaufort Sea, but this plan was abandoned and the target changed to a circum-navigation of the Antarctic which would include exploration of the little known and sib-antarctic islands. Sailing from London for the Southern Ocean on 17 September 1921, the crew included eight of Shackleton's shipmates from the famous Endurance Expedition. Quest reached South Georgia on 4th January 1922. The following night, before the expedition’s work could properly begin, Shackleton unexpectedly passed away aboard the vessel while she was at anchor in Grytviken. 

The obverse of the coin features an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II produced exclusively by Pobjoy Mint.