Captain Cook Anniversary Five Crowns

Men who make history are a breed apart. Theirs is life sustained by challenges and a lack of boundaries. They know the only boundaries in life are the ones we place on ourselves. As James Cook once said, his ambition was to go not only “farther than any man has been before me, but I think as far as I think it is possible to go.” With this belief guiding him, Cook changed the world. His discovery of Australia and survey of New Zealand sowed the seeds of the formation of two great nations. Cook’s First Voyage, 250 years later, still mesmerises us. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of that historic expedition. Relive with Cook, Joseph Banks and the men of the HMB Endeavour, the greatest story in maritime exploration. Upon a wave of pure 24-carat gold layered brilliance, the “Captain Cook Anniversary Five Crowns” sets sail to political intrigue, scientific ambition and rousing old-fashioned adventure…for just 999 collectors worldwide and exclusive to The Bradford Exchange.

Peruse the reverse of the “Captain Cook Anniversary Five Crowns” and step through a doorway back to the 1769 Transit of Venus expedition. The driving forces, James Cook and botanist Joseph Banks are recreated from authentic period paintings. Every fine detail is realised in raised-relief portraiture that is an art form like no other. In their forthright gazes, we see men ready to alter the course of history. The vessel which became its own legend, HMB Endeavour, rests upon a full colour seascape, an elegant counterpoint to the vibrancy 24-carat gold. Surrounding the names which have become enshrined in our history is a grid representing the lines of longitude and latitude upon which Cook sailed into legend. Be impressed by the inclusion of the book, sextant and telescope motifs at the crown of the coin. Representing knowledge, the navigational aid which Cook mastered and the scientific instrument used to observe the Transit, united they express the stated and secret mission of the 1768-69 expedition: the first nation intrepid enough to discover the unknown southern continent and its potential riches, could lead the world. And from Cook’s resolute determination to challenge these boundaries, the British Empire was born and Australia and New Zealand, founded.

Substantial is the only way to describe this coin. At 65mm in diameter and weighing 110 grams, coins of such proportions are struck to mark occasions of great importance. Minted to Proof standards, the highest possible quality, it is entirely layered with pure 24-carat gold and with the genuine “aquamarine” crystal, it is a coin that is simply without parallel. The technical complexities of striking such a large diameter ensures that the worldwide mintage has been set remarkably low, at just 999. This means that each one of these limited edition coins has a rarityvalue in addition to its collectability, which would usually push the release price too high for most people. High demand is expected so don’t delay, order yours now!

Features

This Captain Cook Anniversary Five Crowns exclusive to The Bradford Exchange features: