Description
This 2020 low mintage five ounce $50 fine silver coin presents an intriguing perspective of Captain John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition to the Canadian Arctic. In 1845 Franklin and his crew set off in two ships on a voyage of discovery to the Canadian far north, and never returned. According to Inuit accounts and a note found during subsequent search expeditions, the ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were beset in ice west of King William Island. By 1848, it is believed that all aboard had perished. Adding to its collectability, the mintage is extremely limited to 750. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The large 68 mm coin brilliantly combines design and form. The edge of the coin itself takes the shape of the jagged ice which also forms the background of the engraved design. The main design presents the HMS Terror firmly ensnared in the frozen sea. In a desperate attempt to survive, the remaining crew and officers are seen abandoning the ship, with one group in the distance hauling a lifeboat towards King William Island. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Franklin's Lost Arctic Expedition:
It was not until 2014 that a Parks Canada expedition finally located the wreckage of the HMS Erebus, followed in 2016 by the discovery of the wreck of the HMS Terror. With the discovery of these ships, archaeologists can now finally complete a more detailed picture of what happened.
While Franklin may not have succeeded in traversing the Northwest passage, his voyage adds to Canada’s early claim to the Arctic territories, and weaves a story of bravery, mystery and danger that captivates our imagination.
