FALKLAND ISLANDS
REIGN OF ELIZABETH II (1952 TO PRESENT)
400TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SIGHTING OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS (1592-1992)
100 GOLD POUNDS CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
ONLY 400 MINTED!
OBV: PORTRAIT BUST OF ELIZABETH II RIGHT WEARING TIARA; DENOMINATION AT BOTTOM.
REV: FLAGSHIP DESIRE SAILING ON THE WAVES AND FACING RIGHT; LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE LINES WITH MAP OF FALKLANDS IN BACKGROUND; ANNIVERSARY DATES UPPER RIGHT.
KM #42
IN 1586, THE ENGLISH EXPLORER AND PRIVATEER SIR THOMAS CAVENDISH SET SAIL ON HIS FIRST VOYAGE ON THE SHIP DESIRE, A 120 TON SAILING SHIP WITH 18 CANNONS. THE FIRST VOYAGE, WHICH INCLUDED A CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE GLOBE (DESIRE WAS THE THIRD SHIP TO DO SO), RAIDING SPANISH TOWNS AND SHIPS IN THE PACIFIC, AND AMASSING A VAST TREASURE, WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.
ON THE SECOND VOYAGE IN 1592, ALONG WITH THE NAVIGOR JOHN DAVIS, TRAVELLING FURTHER SOUTH IN THE ATLANTIC, THE EXPEDITION ACHIEVED INTIAL SUCCESS, BUT A BATTLE WITH THE PORTUGUESE IN BRAZIL LOST MOST OF THE CREW. SETTING SAIL FOR ST. HELENA, CAVENDISH FELL ILL AND DIED, POSSIBLY OFF ASCENSION ISLAND, AT AGE 31.
DAVIS AND THE REMAINING CREW SAILED ON, TURNED BACK BY FOUL WEATHER, AND MANY HISTORIANS BELIEVE DAVIS WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO SIGHT THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. AFTERWARDS, THE EXPEDITION RETURNED TO ENGLAND, MOST OF THE CREW HAVING DIED OF MALNUTRITION AND STARVATION BEFORE REACHING HOME IN 1593. DAVIS, AND 15 MEN OUT OF A CREW OF 76, SURVIVED.
WHETHER DAVIS AND HIS CREW ACTUALLY SIGHTED THE FALKLANDS OR SOME OTHER ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REMAINS UNCERTAIN. THE PERSON ACCREDITED WITH THE FIRST RECORDED DISCOVERY OF AND FIRST LANDING ON THE FALKLANDS IS ENGLISH CAPTAIN JOHN STRONG IN 1690. STRONG WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE HMS WELFARE. THE SHIP WAS DRIVEN OFF COURSE DURING AN EXPEDITION FROM LONDON TO SOUTH AMERICA. STRONG DISCOVERED THE SOUND BETWEEN THE TWO MAIN ISLANDS IN THE ARCHIPELIGO, AND NAMED IT FALKLAND SOUND AFTER THE PART OWNER OF THE WELFARE, ANTHONY CARY, 5th VISCOUNT OF FALKLAND.
CONTAINS 31.21 GRAMS OF .999 FINE GOLD
(1.0024 OZ AGW)
33 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 400 MINTED!
