International Polar Year (IPY) is a scientific program sponsored by the International Council for Science and the World
Meteorological Organisation. March 2007 to March 2008 was chosen as the fourth IPY and and as a result the Royal Australian
Mint released this uncirculated dollar piece. The
reverse was designed by W. Pietranik and features a map of Antarctica along with an image of the SY Aurora which
was used in Mawson's Antarctic Expedition. The reverselegend
states "AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC TERRITORY - INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR 2007 - 2008" with the denomination "1 DOLLAR". The
obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth
II with the
legend
"ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2007".
The First International Polar Year occurred between 1882 and 1883 after a Austro-Hungarian naval officer pushed for a
coordinated scientific research on Antarctica. Twelve nations took place in the event with twelve stations in the Arctic
and two in the sub-Antarctic. The event was repeated in 1932-1933, 1957-58 and 2007-2008. The most recent event was an enormous
event featuring 228 separate projects in addition to numerous related national projects.
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