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Sunday 3 November 2019

1131) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of issue: 2020:

1131) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of issue: 2020:

The first Voyage of Captain James Cook (1768-1771):

The first voyage of James Cook was a combined Royal Navy and Royal Society expedition to the South Pacific Ocean aboard the HMS Endeavour. From 1768 to 1771, it was the first of three Pacific voyages of which Cook was the commander. 

The objectives of this first expedition were to observe the "1769 transit of Venus" across the Sun (3-4 June of that year) and to seek evidence of the postulated "Terra Australis Incognita" (meaning "unknown Southern Land").

The voyage was commissioned by King George III and commanded by Lieutenant James Cook, a junior naval officer with skills in cartography and mathematics. 

Sailing from Plymouth Dockyard in 08/1768, the expedition crossed the Atlantic, rounded Cape Horn and reached Tahiti in time to observe the transit of Venus.

The expedition then sailed into the largely uncharted ocean to the South, stopping at the Pacific Islands of Huahine, Borabora and Raiatea and unsuccessfully attempted to land at Rurutu.

In 09/1769, the expedition reached New Zealand , being the second European sailors to reach here, after the first European expedition of Abel Tasman some 127 years earlier. The expedition spent the following six months charting the New Zealand coast, before resuming their voyage Westward across the open sea.

In 04/1770, they reached the East coast of Australia, landing at Point Hicks and then proceeding to Botany Bay.

The expedition continued Northward along the Australian coastline, narrowly avoiding shipwreck on the Great Barrier Reef.

In 10/1770, the badly damaged "Endeavour" came into the portof Batavia in the Dutch East Indies.

On 26.12.1770, they resumed their journey, rounded the Cape of Good Hope on 13.03.1771, reaching the  English port of Deal on 12.07.1771, after a voyage lasting almost three years.

A Controversy about who first discovered Australia:

For centuries, Australians have been taught that the British expedition led by James Cook, had discovered their country in 1770, and who quickly claimed it for the British Crown and declared the continent "terra nullius".

Now it seems that a tiny copper coin has been found on a deserted uninhabited Australian beach in Elcho Island in 2018, which is from Kilwa, an ancient trading city 9656 kilometres, in what is present day Tanzania in Africa, and predates the first European explorers by several centuries.

Kilwa coins have been found previously in Northern Australia, in 1944, opening the possibility that seafarers from distant lands might have landed "Down Under" much earlier than the British would have us believe.

The discovery of the Kilwa coin indicates that the first non-Aborigines to set foot in Australia were not Europeans, but Africans from Kilwa, who may have brought the coins themselves to Australia or the coins could have washed ashore from an African ship-wreck.

Another explanation could be that the Portuguese, who had raided Kilwa in 1506, left the coin behind on their travels in South-east Asia.

Portuguese sea-farers were in East Timor in 1515 and could have potentially reached the Australian mainland. This would make the Portuguese the first Europeans to reach Australia and would mean they were there some 250 years before Cook's expedition, which laid claim to the continent.

There was trade between Kilwa and China and the coins may have reached the islands along with traders blown off course, or while fleeing pirates or even due to an unrelated shipwreck. There is also the possibility of contact between indigenous Australians and Kilwa traders about seven centuries ago.

Further research is going on and discovery of Kilwa coins at different locations, has the potential to change the course of Australia's "history of discovery".

The Commemorative Coin:

The 2020 10 Dollar Captain Cook Enamel 3 Oz. Silver Antique Coin is a spectacular work of modern-day minting.

The Coin pays tribute to the 250th Anniversary of Cook's first Pacific voyage and charting of Australia's East coast.

This ground-breaking, 50.0 mm legal tender captures the essence of the "Voyage of Discovery" by the expedition. Struck to Ultra High Relief quality, from a massive three Ounces of 99.9% Silver, it is an exceptionally elegant coin.


On the Reverse of the 10 Dollars Enamel 3 Oz Silver Antique Coin is seen Captain Cook charting a course in the Expedition's "Voyage of Discovery".

In the background are seen the East coast of "Australia" and "New Zealand" with the "Endeavour" sailing towards them from centre right. One can also see a depiction of the "Pacific Ocean" - finished in transparent, spectacular "ocean blue" see-through enamel. Also seen on the design is Cook's compass in the upper half of the coin towards the right.

The peripheral inscriptions are - "COOK'S VOYAGE of DISCOVERY" (on the upper to right periphery) and "250th ANNIVERSARY - 1770-2020" (on a scroll on the lower periphery).

On the Obverse of the 10 Dollar Enamel 3 Oz. Silver Antique Coin shows an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, whose initials "IRB" appear below the Queen's neck. The Queen's effigy is placed inside Cook's own compass, which shows the dirctional markings. On top is seen a "Fleur-di-Lis" (A "Lily Flower") symbolising good luck.


A side view of the Coin shows the high relief design on this issue, together with serrations.

The specifications of this coin ae:

Denomination: 10 Dollars; Theme: 250th Anniversary of Cook's Voyage of Discovery; Metal Composition: .999 Silver (Ag); Coin Quality: Antique Finish, with Ultra-High Relief; Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Weight: 3 Ounces; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Included; Country of issue: Solomon Islands; Year: 2020; Mintage: 500 pieces.


The Coin is encapsulated and beautifully presented in a timber case

        The "Endeavour" embarks on its "Voyage of Discovery"








Links to posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this Blog:


2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence 


 3) Currency & Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017

17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti 

18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017



20) The Earth and Beyond Coin Series issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM): First coin in the series - The Earth - issued on 03.04.2018


21) Wedge Tailed Eagle Coin Series: 200 Dollars Gold, 100 Dollars Gold & 1 Dollar Silver coins brought out by the Perth Mint, Australia in its on-going series started in 2014 in collaboration with John Mercanti, Chief Engraver of the US Mint: Coins issued in 2018


22) Australian Kangaroo Coin Series: 25th Anniversary Commemoration: A $100 Gold Coin and a $10 Silver Coin with selective gold plating issued by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in 2018


23) "Kangaroo at Sunset": The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) is phasing out this iconic $25 Gold Coin from its repertoire of Commemorative Coins in 2018


24) "Discovery": An exclusive one piece - 2 Kilo Gold Coin studded with four Argyle Pink Diamonds/Gemstones minted by the Perth Mint, Australia in co-ordination with the Argyle Pink Diamonds Mine on 04.09.2018


25) "The Moon": The Earth and Beyond three Silver Coin Series: Royal Australian Mint issues the second coin in the series - a silver coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.09.2018


26) New $10 Australian Banknote issued on 18.09.2017 under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

27) New Australian 50 Dollar Banknote (AUD $50) issued in 10/2018, under the "Fourth Series of Banknotes": New Generation of Australian Banknotes introduced in a phased manner from 09/2016 onwards by Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)


28) "Lake Argyle" - "The Jewel of the Kimberley", Australia: Limited Edition Series of Rare diamond ingots in Pink Gold (10 Oz. & 1 Oz.) and Platinum (1 Oz.) studded with eight Argyle Pink Diamonds each issued by the Perth Mint, Australia in collaboration with the Argyle Pink Diamond Mine (2018)


29) "The Sun": The Earth and Beyond Coin Series": Royal australian Mint (RAM) issues the third and final coin in the three-coin Series, a Silver Coloured Five (AUD) Dollars Concave-shaped (Domed) Coin on 03.02.2019


30) Australia New Generation $20 Banknote is scheduled to be released in October 2019, joining the already released Banknotes in the denominations of $5, $10 and $50 in the new Series

31) The Afghan Express, Australia's iconic Train nicknamed "The Ghan": 90th Anniversary of the iconic Transcontinental Passenger Train: A 50 Cent Colour applied coin brought out by the Royal Australian Mint on 08.07.2019

32) "Kangaroos at Dawn", Australia,replaces the "Kangaroo at Sunset" Coin Series:25 Dollar Gold 1/5 Oz Coin and 1 Dollar Silver 1/2 Oz Coins brought out by the Royal Australian Mint

Links to interesting Posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:
Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:

2) Four Leaf Clover - Coin titled "Silver Fortune" - A 5 Dollars Silver coin issued by Coin Invest Trust in 2018


3) Totem Pole 2 Oz. or 10 Dollars Silver coin from the Republic of Palau being issued on 12.06.2018


4) The "Maneki Neko Cat" ot the "Fortune Cat" : A $1 Gold Coin issued by the Republic of Palau: Minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich for Coin Invest Trust in 2018


Links to Posts on coin issues from Niue Islands:


1) Battle of Marathon: Battles that changed History Coin Series: A $2 Silver coin issued by the New Zealand Mint of behalf of Niue Islands in 2018


2) Sachin Tendulkar: "World's Greatest Batsman": Gold & Silver coins issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Islands in 2015


3) The Red Dragon, an issue from Niue Island: minted by the New Zealand Mint: "The Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": The first Silver 5 Dollars selectively coloured Coin in the Series features the "Red Dragon of Vortigern": Year of issue: 2019

4) "The Four Dragons", Niue Island: Minted by the New Zealand Mint: The "Mythical Dragons of the World Coin Series": The second Silver 5 Dollars Selectively Coloured Coin in the Series features the Four Dragons: the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Black Dragon and the Pearl Dragon: Year of issue: 2019

5) The "1001 Arabian Nights Tales": First $2 Silver crown Coin coin in the Series depicts the "story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves": Coin issue date: 29.03.2019

6) Niue Island: "The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor": The "1001 Arabian Nights Tales": The Second Coin in the Series features the story of Sindbad the Sailor, on a $2 Silver Crown Coin issued by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island in the South Pacific: Issue date: 05/2019

7) Birds of Paradise, Niue Islands: A 1 Oz Silver $2 Coin minted by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Islands: Coin minting Year: 2020

Links to posts on Coin issues from Solomon Islands:


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