• Login/ out
  • My Account
  • Register

Top Menu
Shop Menu

  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Deal of the Day
    • Blowout Specials
    • Unique Deals
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Just Released Products
    • Auction
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
    • Perth & New Zealand Mints
    • United States Decimal & Sets
    • World Coins and Paper Money
    • Coin Supplies
    • Mega Specials
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Ebay
  • SELL TO US
  • AUCTION
    • Consign with us
  • CONTACT US
    • Shipping Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQ
  • MEET OUR TEAM
    • History
  • COLLECTORS CORNER
  • BULLION CORNER
  • Deal of the Day
  • Blowout Specials
  • Unique Deals
  • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
  • Royal Canadian Mint
  • Just Released Products
  • Auction
  • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
  • Canada Decimal Coins
  • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
  • Canada Paper Money
  • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
  • Perth & New Zealand Mints
  • United States Decimal & Sets
  • World Coins and Paper Money
  • Coin Supplies
  • Mega Specials
  • Gift Ideas
  • Our Ebay
  • Bullion Corner

  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Deal of the Day
    • Blowout Specials
    • Unique Deals
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Just Released Products
    • Auction
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
    • Perth & New Zealand Mints
    • United States Decimal & Sets
    • World Coins and Paper Money
    • Coin Supplies
    • Mega Specials
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Ebay
  • SELL TO US
  • AUCTION
    • Consign with us
    • Current Auction
    • Featured Items
  • INFO
    • Canada’s 150th
    • Contact Us
    • Shipping Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQ
    • Days Closed
  • About Us
    • History
    • MEET OUR TEAM
  • COLLECTORS CORNER
  • BULLION CORNER
Contact Us| Login/Out | My Account | New User
 
View Cart
Click for the BBB Business Review of this TBD in Kitchener ON
Shopper Approved | Colonial Acres Coins PayPal | Colonial Acres Coins MasterCard | Colonial Acres Coins Visa | Colonial Acres Coins
Silver Coin Shares the Mystery Behind Franklin's Lost Arctic ExpeditionSilver Coin Shares the Mystery Behind Franklin's Lost Arctic ExpeditionSilver Coin Shares the Mystery Behind Franklin's Lost Arctic Expedition

Silver Coin Shares the Mystery Behind Franklin’s Lost Arctic Expedition

June 28, 2020 by Colonial Acres Coins

Last updated on July 9th, 2020 at 06:46 am

Last Updated on July 9, 2020 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins

In 1845, Englishman Sir John Franklin and his crew set off on their fourth expedition to the Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage. Little did they know it would be their last. Their two ships, the H.M.S. Terror and H.M.S. Erebus were lost and never found by the more than 90 subsequent rescue expeditions. The ultimate fate of the expedition remained a mystery until 2014 when the Erebus was finally located by a technologically equipped Canadian mission. In honour of the expedition and in celebration of the discovery, a limited set of silver commemorative coins has been released by the Royal Canadian Mint.

An Amazing Story

To truly understand the meaning behind the coins, we need to take a journey back in time and look at this story and how it unfolded. Franklin may have never gone on this voyage had he not fallen into political difficulties. He had previously gained fame from his earlier voyages, one of which was almost fatal for him. Franklin’s wife, Lady Jane Franklin, in an effort to restore his career and image, lobbied for him to get one last expedition. It worked, and he soon set off north.

Journeying into the Arctic is dangerous due to the many icebergs that constantly migrate. This was especially the case for the ships they had back in 1845. After the ships headed into Lancaster Sound, they were never seen again. It is now known that they must have hit a wall of ice when sailing north from the sound and turned around. When finding themselves trapped by more ice on the way back, the expedition was stranded.

Rumors abound as to their ultimate fate thereafter. Some of these rumors described the crew as devolving into cannibalism in their desperate efforts to survive. It wasn’t until a modern search team worked with Inuits, examining the oral tribal history, that they were able to pinpoint the location of one of the ships with the use of a helicopter team. Preserved in the stern of the Erebus was a large dead man. Unfortunately, they were unable to determine if it was Franklin himself, but the ship itself was remarkably well preserved.

Details of the Coin’s Design

Only 750 of these commemorative coins were minted, and each one is made of five ounces of pure silver. It is one of the largest Franklin expedition coins, with a diameter of 68.81 millimeters. The specific pattern of the edges is interrupted serrations, which mimic the icebergs of the Arctic. It features a proof finish. The front side of the coin, designed by Susanna Blunt, features an image of Queen Elizabeth.

The Symbolic and Beautiful Art

The jagged edges of the coin represent the ice that trapped Franklin’s ships using corrugated edges. In the detailed engravings on the reverse side, designed by Matt Bowen, you can see the danger and beauty of the Arctic landscape. On this landscape, you can see survivors escaping from the ship, and topping it all is the aurora borealis. The overall scene conveys the tragedy and sublime peril of being lost in the Arctic wilderness. Modern science and Inuit tradition are both given homage for the roles they played in discovering the lost expedition.

See This and Other Rare Coins

Coins like this one are hard to come by, and their small quantity alone makes them a prize in any collection. With this coin, you can hold a piece of history and real-life adventure. In our collection at Colonial Acres Coins, we have many other rare and collectible coins from all around the world, including some very rare uncirculated and discontinued currencies. Browse our store and see for yourself.

Filed Under: Royal Canadian Mint

SHOP NOW!

Categories

  • Bullion
  • Canadian Coins
  • Coin Supplies
  • Jewelry
  • News
  • Paper Money
  • Royal Canadian Mint
  • Superman Coins
  • Uncategorized
  • World Coins

Blog Archive

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017

Recent Posts

  • Why Invest in Gold Bullion
  • The Significance Behind the 2022 Peace Dollar Rose Gold Plated Coin
  • Polar Bear $2 Canadian Coin Is the Latest in the “Bigger Picture” Series
  • Learn more About the Royal Canadian Air Force Red Knight Coin
  • Colonial Acres Is Always Buying! Here Are Some Tips When Selling Jewellery
    footer-logo

    991 Victoria Street North
    Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
    N2B 3C7

    Toll Free: 1-888-255-4565

    Tel: 519-579-9302

    Fax: 519-340-1381

    info@colonialacres.com

    MENU

    • Home
    • Sell To Us
    • Auction
    • Collectors Corner
    • Bullion Corner

    ABOUT US

    • History
    • Meet Our Team

    SHOP

    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Jewellery

    Read Our Blogs

    STORE HOURS

    Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 4:30pm
    Sat: Click here to see Saturday hours
    Sun: Closed

    MORE INFO

    Contact Us
    Shipping Information
    Terms of Sale
    Privacy Policy

    Facebook Icon | Colonial Acres Coins Click for the BBB Business Review of this TBD in Kitchener ON
    Copyright © 2013 Colonial Acres Coins. All Rights Reserved. Built with Volusion.