1028) 200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated to the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarctica by Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen on-board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020:

1028)  200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated to the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarctica by Admiral Fabian  Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen on-board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020:

Some other posts on Estonia on this blog:

1) The Toucan (Ramaphastos toco): The first coin in a Silver Coin Series titled "Series of the Toucan" brought out by the Niue Island (a part of the New Zealand Realm) and minted by the European Mint, Estonia in 2018

2) Tartu Peace Treaty, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin issued by the Bank of Estonia, celebrating the Centenary Anniversary of the Peace Treaty (1920-2020): Coin Circulation Date: Early 2020

3) 200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated to the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarctica by Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshauser on board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020

The Bank of Estonia has unveiled on 14.06.2019 , the design for the 2 Euro coin which commemorates the bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarctica, which is slated for entering into circulation at the end of 01/2020. The Discovery of Antarctica will be celebrated in 2020. 

The Reverse of the 2 Euro Circulation Coin shown against the Exploration Russian Naval ship - the "Vostok" in which the Expedition Commander Admiral Bellingshausen sailed while making the Discovery of Antarctica

 The discovery is linked to Estonia, because one of the first men to see Antarctica in 1820, who documented the event, was the Baltic German seafarer Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen (1778-1852), a naval officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, who was  born in Saaremaa. 

Bellinghausen was appointed the commander of the Southern Polar Expedition, which left the Russian naval base of Konstadt in the Gulf of Finland in 07/1819. He head charge of two ships - the Vostok and the Mimy. Their orders were to explore as far South as possible and to engage in scientific work.

By 12/1819, South Georgia was mapped and discoveries were made in the South Sandwich Islands. Sailing further South in 01/1820, Bellingshausen sighted the coast of Antarctica - but did not, then, realise the magnitude of his discovery.

The Reverse of the circulation 2 Euro Coin design shows the ship "Vostok", at full sail,  in which  Admiral von Bellingshausen sailed around the world.

The inscriptions are - "FABIAN GOTTLIEB VON BELLINGSHAUSEN", "EESTI" (meaning "ESTONIA"), "2020" (all in the upper half of the coin design) and "ANTARCTIKA 200" in the lower half of the coin design. On the outer periphery are the 12 stars of the European Union.

The Reverse face of the coin has been designed by Tiiu Pirsko and Mati Veermets. In addition, a Silver Commemorative Coin bearing the same design isalso slated to be brought out next year: