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.
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.