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Replies: 11 / Views: 277 |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
Greetings. I'm hoping to get some help. I have inherited a Mc Murdo $10 coin but I can't seem to find info on how "collectible it is" It appears to be an original strike because it measures 25.5mm and the restrikes were 25mm. Its in mint condition. If anyone can point me in the right direction, that would be great, all I can find is all the information about the coin itself. FYI, this is not the picture of my coin, just a good reference to what I have 
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
3441 Posts |
Wow, neat!
I have a few coins from British Antarctic Territory, and vaguely heard of a French Antarctic Territory issue. I didn't know that any other Antarctic areas issued coins.
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Moderator

United States
97760 Posts |
 to the Community! Your reply was split into its own topic for the proper attention. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5207 Posts |
I was at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station from 1 November 1968 to mid-February 1969 (their summer). The station was run by the US Navy; they did the logistics and support for our weather and scientific research. I was a Meteorological Technician (weather observer) working for ESSA Weather Bureau (the predecessor of NOAA) and in conjunction with the National Science Foundation. The McMurdo "coin" didn't exist at the time and probably makes money for someone. Currency (and stamps) for McMurdo and other US bases in Antarctica were standard US issues.
No country "owns" any part of the Antarctic continent. The British Antarctic Territory and maybe the French Antarctic Territory are islands found around Antarctica.
"Antarctic Treaty, (Dec. 1, 1959), agreement signed by 12 nations, in which the Antarctic continent was made a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research. The treaty resulted from a conference in Washington, D.C., attended by representatives of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Later other nations acceded to the treaty.
The treaty did not deny or support national claims to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica, but it did forbid all contracting parties from establishing military bases, carrying on military maneuvers, testing any weapons (including nuclear weapons), or disposing of radioactive wastes in the area. The treaty encouraged the freedom of scientific investigation and the exchange of scientific information and personnel in Antarctica. The treaty bound its members indefinitely, with a review of its provisions possible after 30 years. A protocol to the 1959 treaty was signed in 1991. The agreement banned mineral and oil exploration for 50 years and included regulations for the protection of the Antarctic environment."
Describe it as if there were no picture. Picture it as if there were no description.
Edited by kanga 02/24/2021 2:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1138 Posts |
When I was in A school we called AG's "weather guessers". By chance was your training at Lakehurst like mine was?
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
3441 Posts |
Quote: Your reply was split into its own topic for the proper attention. Could you please link to the original, so that I could post my reply there as well? It was intended for both.
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Moderator

Australia
13582 Posts |
It is not an official coin, but a privately made coin-like medal; as it has a purported denomination on it, it would qualify as a "fantasy coin". Here's the NGC page for it, which uses data taken from the Krause "Unusual World Coins" catalogue of fantasy, unofficial and other dubiously coin-like non-coins. As for the OP's question on how "collectable" it is: as an unofficial coin, it will generally have less collector interest and demand than an actual official coin. Because there's no such thing as actual "coins from Antarctica", some collectors might be interested in buying an item like this, to "fill the hole" for Antarctica in their One From Every Country list, but most coin collectors will shun such pieces once they realise they are unofficial non-government-issued pieces and not listed in the mainstream coin catalogues. I, personally, would not choose to buy one. You can see from the NGC page, it's given a catalogue value of US$75.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
3441 Posts |
Quote: Because there's no such thing as actual "coins from Antarctica" I think the British Antarctic Territory coins are technically official? I surely would have been interested in any more such exotic items if I found and could afford them, though!
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Moderator

Australia
13582 Posts |
It's true, the coins issued in the name of the BAT are "legal tender" under the authority of the territory, though as the Territory is not internationally recognized, not even by the British government as a signatory to the Antarctic treaty, one does wonder what "legality" such coins actually have.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator

United States
97760 Posts |
Quote: Could you please link to the original, so that I could post my reply there as well? It was intended for both. http://goccf.com/t/377395
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5207 Posts |
Quote: When I was in A school we called AG's "weather guessers". By chance was your training at Lakehurst like mine was? Nope. I was Army so my first school was at Ft. Monmouth, NJ. Then they sent me to the Air Force school at Chanute, AFB, Illinois. But I did take the Aerographer's Mate correspondence course from somewhere in NY if I recall correctly.
Describe it as if there were no picture. Picture it as if there were no description.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5207 Posts |
Scotia, NY, as I recall.
Describe it as if there were no picture. Picture it as if there were no description.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 277 |
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