After exploring the South Pacific and crossing the Antarctic Circle during his previous two voyages, Captain James Cook (1728-1779) came north on his third epic Pacific voyage, eventually reaching our western shores in 1778. This gold-plated fine silver coin commemorates Cook’s anchoring off Nootka Sound, viewed from the perspective of the Mowachaht people who greeted the expedition.

The reverse image by Neil Hamelin depicts Captain Cook’s expedition sailing into Nootka Sound at the end of March 1778. Viewed from the ocean-going canoe in the foreground, HMS Resolution is a towering sight on the water, as the Mowachaht beach keeper and his companions are paddling out to greet the ship and its crew. Dressed in traditional clothing, the beach keeper stands with one arm raised while his right hand grips a paddle bearing a traditional motif. The reverse includes the engraved face value “30 DOLLARS” and the word “CANADA” and features a double date “1778-2018”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

This gold-plated fine silver coin is a special commemoration of the 240th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s arrival at Nootka Sound—a historic meeting of cultures that left an indelible imprint on our history.