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Australia HMB Endeavour

2002 Proof Five Dollar

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This five Dollar proof Silver coin was designed as a commemorative item, which celebrates the important historical voyage of HMB Endeavour. It is one coin from a set of four, five Dollar coins, which together pay tribute to the most important voyages that contributed to or played a significant role in Australian history. With the continent, that we now know as Australia being so difficult to reach and completely unknown, it took skills and dedication to make the discoveries for which these voyages were responsible. They allowed Europeans to gain access to the landmass and continued to open and educate regarding the nature of the land. Each of the coins that make up the set was struck into a sterling silver planchet and features a beautiful design that each depicts a different vessel. As well as HMB Endeavour being commemorated in this set are the Duyfken, HMS Sirius and HMS Investigator. The set named 'Voyages into History' is one of the Masterpieces in Silver collection and was released in 2002.

The obverse of the coin features the traditional portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, designed by British sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. This is complimented by the legend ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2002. The reverse is beautifully designed by Polish sculptor and artist Wojciech Pietranik, who has had a long collaboration with the Masterpieces in Silver collections. HMB Endeavour is depicted and is framed with swirling lines that feature on the reverse of each coin from this set possibly representing the wind in the ships sails. The legend VOYAGES INTO DISCOVERY, HM Bark Endeavour and 5 DOLLARS frame the image of the ship. The four coins are packaged in a 'Masterpieces in Silver 2002, Voyages into History' presentation case accompanied with a replica of a navel captains sash badge. (Royal Australian Mint Issue Vol 49, 2002) Also included inside is a book telling the stories of each of the voyages as well as a Certificate of Authenticity.

HM Bark Endeavour was a vessel of the British Royal Navy, which was commanded by Lieutenant James Cook on his voyage to Australia and New Zealand (Wikipedia, 2013) . Rumours of a southern land had been heard around Europe and at this time the British Royal Navy had particular interest in claiming various islands on behalf of Great Britain. She left Plymouth in 1768 on a voyage to see and study the transit of Venus across the sun that was due to occur in Tahiti in 1768. Cook has also been ordered with the slightly more secretive mission to continue on to explore the largely uncharted Southern seas for what was then referred to as 'Terra Australis Incognita', translated as unknown southern land. In 1770, HMB Endeavour landed on the east coast, becoming the first known vessel to do so and the first to reach the island at all since Abel Tasman, 127 years earlier. Cook went ashore at what we now know to be Botany Bay before continuing to sail north along the east coast. They ran aground at the Great Barrier Reef and just about managed to make in into port at the modern day Jakarta. After this crucial voyage in Australian history, the HM Bark had a fairly modest life. It was scuttled off of Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War and a replica was launched in 1994, which is berthed in Sydney Harbour.