Silver and gold coins were issued Wednesday by Ireland’s Central Bank to commemorate the adventurous feats by Antarctic explorers Earnest Shackleton and Tom Crean, and celebrate the International Polar Year.

The proof collector €5 and €100 coins feature the two historic Irish explorers with their ship ‘The Endurance’ backdropped within the steel grips of Antarctic ice.

Shackleton and Crean ‘The Endurance’ Expedition Background

In a remarkable story, in 1915 the pair set off to cross the Antarctica via the South Pole on an expedition that soon became a near hopeless battle for survival.

During the journey, The Endurance became wedged. The vessel could not shake the clutches of the South Pole ice, and eventually sank 10 months later.

Shackleton, Crean and crew were forced onto floating ice Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Australian Mint has announced the start of the 2008 Polar Series coins, which mark the 4th International Polar Year - a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic.

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Next Thursday, Jan. 3, the 2008 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin will go on sale by the United States Mint. While the 2007 proof version is currently sold for $29.95, its days are numbered and the Mint has announced its newer replacement will sale for $2 more, at $31.95.

Last week’s mintage numbers indicated approximately 810,000 of the current 2007 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin have been sold.

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