Pair of 2007 Canada $20 International Polar Year Sterling Silver Coins, 2pcs (Scr. Caps)

Pair of 2007 Canada $20 International Polar Year Sterling Silver Coins, 2pcs (Scr. Caps)

By 1882, European exploratory expeditions had been probing the polar regions for centuries. Fronted by individual nations or even individual persons, the outcomes of these discovery treks ranged from dangerous to utterly disastrous, with the bleak and unforgiving polar landscape capable of swallowing even the most accomplished and capable European explorers.

The idea of a coordinated, intensive research initiative rose from these many failed attempts. Eleven countries combined forces, aiming their scientific resources at both poles in a race to learn as much as possible in one year: the United Kingdom, United States, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Russia. They established twelve Arctic and two Antarctic stations, gathering data on meteorology, geomagnetism, atmospheric electricity, and auroral phenomena. It was the first of four International Polar Years, with a fifth planned for the 2030s.

To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first International Polar Year, the Royal Canadian Mint released these beautifully detailed sterling silver coins. Featuring a collage of images that invoke the Canadian Arctic, including a portrait of early Arctic explorer Martin Frobisher. Both the plasma and regular versions are included in this lot. The plasma edition, which features a beautiful, metallic blue finish meant to invoke the cold of the polar regions, was the first coin of its kind, tinted with a then cutting-edge technology.

Please note, these coins come in scratched capsules. No packaging or COAs are included; you will receive encapsulated coins only.