1985 SILVER FALKLAND ISLANDS £25 PROOF 4.6 OZ SELF SUFFICIENCY 100th ANNIVERSARY

Description

FALKLAND ISLANDS - SELF GOVERNING BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
REIGN OF ELIZABETH II (1952-PRESENT) - HOUSE OF WINDSOR
100th ANNIVERSARY OF SELF SUFFICIENCY COMMEMORATIVE (1885-1985)
LARGE SILVER TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS PROOF 4.607 OUNCE COIN WITH ORIGINAL BOX & COA
OBV: CROWNED PORTRAIT BUST OF ELIZABETH II RIGHT; DENOMINATION BELOW.
REV: S.S. GREAT BRITAIN SIX-MASTED SAILING STEAMSHIP LEFT SAILING ON OCEAN WAVES WITH CLOUDS BEHIND; DATES IN ROUNDED EXERGUE.
KM # 20
THE FIRST EUROPEAN MENTION OF WHAT ARE NOW THE FALKLAND ISLANDS IS CREDITED TO A DUTCH EXPLORER, BUT SEPARATE EXPEDITIONS OF BRITISH AND FRENCH EXPLORERS ESTABLISHED COLONIES ON THE TWO PRINCIPAL ISLANDS IN 1690, UNBEKNOWNST TO EACH OTHER. THE ISLANDS WERE GIVEN THE NAME FALKLANDS BY THE BRITISH COMMANDER AFTER THE ADMIRALTY COMMISSIONER (LORD FALKLAND) THAT FINANCED THAT EXPEDITION.
THE FALKLAND ISLANDS HAVE BEEN UNDER BRITISH SOVEREIGNITY SINCE 1832, WHEN TWO BRITISH WARSHIPS WERE SENT TO THE ISLANDS TO RE-ASSERT BRITISH POSSESSION OVER THE CLAIMED RIGHTS OF
THE UNITED PROVINCES OF SOUTH AMERICA
(IN PART FORMED BY ARGENTINA AFTER INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN).
THE
S.S. GREAT BRITAIN
, FIGURING PROMINENTLY ON THE REVERSE OF THIS ATTRACTIVE COIN, WAS AN ADVANCED PASSENGER STEAMSHIP FOR THE
GREAT WESTERN STEAMSHIP COMPANY
. BUILT IN 1843, SHE WAS FAMOUS IN HER DAY AS THE LARGEST VESSEL AFLOAT, AND HELD THE TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING RECORD OF 14 DAYS.
SHE WAS BUILT FOR SERVICE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND NEW YORK, BUT COST OVERRUNS COUPLED WITH THE SHIP BEING STRANDED BECAUSE OF NAVIGATIONAL ERROR IN 1846, BANKRUPTED THE COMPANY. SHE WAS SOLD FOR SALVAGE AND CONVERTED TO SAIL IN 1881 AND WAS PUT IN SERVICE SHUTTLING IMMIGRANTS TO AUSTRALIA. IN 1885, THE SHIP WAS CAUGHT IN A VIOLENT STORM OFF THE FALKLANDS, SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO HER MASTS AND RAN AGROUND. AFTERWARDS, THE ONCE PROUD VESSEL WAS USED AS A STORAGE WAREHOUSE, A COAL HULK (FOR COAL STORAGE) AND A QUARANTINE SHIP. SHE WAS FINALLY SCUTTLED IN THE FALKLANDS IN 1937. THE
S.S. GREAT BRITAIN
WAS RETURNED TO ENGLAND IN 1970, AND IS NOW A RESTORED FLOATING MUSEUM ATTRACTION IN BRISTOL HARBOR.
SELF SUFFIECIENTCY IN THE ISLANDS WAS DETERMINED BY 1885, OWING TO SHEEP FARMING BASED PRIMARILY AROUND THE CAPITAL OF PORT STANLEY ON EAST FALKLAND ISLAND.
IN 1982, ARGENTINA INVADED THE FALKLANDS AND OTHER BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC. THE FALKLANDS WAR WAS HIGHLY PUBLICIZED AND BRITAIN'S EXPEDITINARY FORCE DEFEATED ARGENTINIAN AIR NAVAL AND LAND FORCES FORCING ARGENTINE SURRENDER. THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS, SINCE THE END OF THE WAR, VOWED TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE FALKLANDS AND PROMOTE CONTINUED SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
CONTAINS 150 GRAMS OF .925 FINE SILVER (4.4607 OZS ASW)
65 MM IN DIAMETER
COMES IN THE ORIGINAL ROYAL MINT PRESENTATION BOX AND ACCOMPANIED WITH CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
ROYAL MINT