Ascension Island Coin Remembers Lady Thatcher

The Government of the Ascension Island have launched a new coin to mark the passing former British Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher, whose death was announced on the 8^th April 2013 – Lady Thatcher was 87 years old.

Known as the Iron Lady – a name which was given to her by the former USSR news services, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister as well as the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20^th Century. She was honored with a ceremonial funeral with full military honors at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, the only politician to be granted such a tribute since the death of Winston Churchill in 1965.

As Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher took a firm stance with the European Community and also on other issues, both domestic and foreign and thus transformed the nation. When foreign forces invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982, she dispatched a task force to the South Atlantic which drove the enemy off the islands in a military operation which took place 8,000 miles from home. For this decision, Mrs Thatcher is regarded as the liberator of the South Atlantic. A main street in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, is named in her honor.

The coin, struck by the Pobjoy Mint on behalf of the Government of Ascension Island includes on the reverse – a profile head and shoulders portrait of Mrs Thatcher facing to the left along with the text above the portrait which reads “MARGARET THATCHER THE IRON LADY” the coin’s denomination of £2 is seen just below the portrait.

Denomination	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Mintage
£2	.925 silver	28 grams	38.6 mm.	Proof	10,000 pieces
£2	Cupro-nickel	28 grams	38.6 mm.	BU	unlimited

The coin is issued in two versions, a proof silver and a Brilliant Uncirculated cupro-nickel example. For more information on these and other coins offered by the Government of the Falkland Islands, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint at: http://www.pobjoy.com/ukworld/section.php/815/0 Information offered in English, international orders fulfilled.