Weddell Seal Pup Depicted on South Georgia Coin

The Treasury of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands have launched a new crown coin which depicts a delightful Weddell Seal pup.

The Weddell Seal is native to Antarctica and lives further south than any other mammal.  This species was discovered and named in the 1820s during expeditions led by James Weddell, the British sealing captain. The Weddell Seal is remarkable for its ability to survive the bitter Antarctic winters where they spend most of their time in the water to avoid blizzards with only their heads poking through breathing holes in the ice. They are very docile and placid animals and can be approached easily.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean and located less than 1000 miles north/north-east of Antarctica. It is a remote collection of islands where animals such as king penguins, seals and whales are often found though the Islands have no native land mammals.

Struck by the Pobjoy Mint on behalf of the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Government, the reverse side of the coin features a depiction of a young Weddell Seal pup who are admired for their cute, cat-like whiskered faces and adorable demeanor. The young seals have a grey coat for the first 3-4 weeks which later turns to a darker color. When first born the pups are around half the length of their mother and weigh 25 to 30 kilograms.  However these pups gain around 2 kilograms per day so grow very rapidly. The obverse of the coin features an image of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. The year of issue “2013” is included in the legend.

Denomination	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Mintage
£2	.925 silver	28.2 grams	38.6 mm.	Proof	10,000 pieces
£2	Cupro-nickel	28.2 grams	38.6 mm.	BU	unlimited

This coin is available in both sterling silver (proof quality) and cupro-nickel (BU quality). For more information on this and other coins offered by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint at: www.pobjoy.com – International orders fulfilled.