Explorer remembered in silver coin issue

The Cook Islands in cooperation with Downies Coins, has issued a set of three one-ounce silver $5 coins honouring English explorer Captain James Cook. The 2018 coins commemorate the 250th anniversary of the voyage that placed Cook in the history books. James Cook’s first notable efforts were the detailed maps he created of Newfoundland (part of modern-day Canada). Following that triumph, Cook made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, and the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand. Cook was largely unknown when appointed to command the HMS Bark Endeavour on an expedition to the Pacific in 1768, the first of those three voyages. The stated objective of the first mission was to sail to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus, but that was only part of the story. Cook also received some additional, secret orders: find the fabled “Great South Land”. With Cook’s astronomical observations complete in 1769, he set sail for home. His ship needed repairs, so he stayed close to the coastline — Australia’s coastline. Cook and his party subsequently claimed the east coast for Britain, charting 2,000 miles of the continent i

The Cook Islands in cooperation with Downies Coins, has issued a set of three one-ounce silver $5 coins honouring English explorer Captain James Cook. The 2018 coins commemorate the 250th anniversary of the voyage that placed Cook in the history books. James Cook’s first notable efforts were the detailed maps he created of Newfoundland (part of modern-day Canada). Following that triumph, Cook made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, and the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand. Cook was largely unknown when appointed to command the HMS Bark Endeavour on an expedition to the Pacific in 1768, the first of those three voyages. The stated objective of the first mission was to sail to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus, but that was only part of the story. Cook also received some additional, secret orders: find the fabled “Great South Land”. With Cook’s astronomical observations complete in 1769, he set sail for home. His ship needed repairs, so he stayed close to the coastline — Australia’s coastline. Cook and his party subsequently claimed the east coast for Britain, charting 2,000 miles of the continent i