Greenwich Meridian Silver Coin IOM 2000 Unc.

Description

Product Description For Greenwich Meridian Silver Coin IOM 2000 Unc.:

This listing is for one uncirculated:

Greenwich Meridian Line.
Isle Of Man
2000 1 Crown Legal Tender.
LIMITED MINTAGE OF 10,000.
SILVER PROOF. 
Commemorative Coin Uncirculated.
In Clear Circular Protective Capsule With Certificate Of Authenticity New In Box.

ACCOMPANIED BY BOOKLET WHICH TELLS THE STORY OF THE GREENWICH MERIDIAN AND WHOSE LAST PAGE IS CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

The front shows the Old Royal Observatory Clock Face in which the Mint has embedded A Brass Strip From The Original Prime Meridian.

The back shows a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS FSNAD which Buckingham Palace has approved.

Beautiful reeded edge.

The diameter of this finely struck and detailed coin is 38.60 mm and it weighs 28.20 gms.

This coin (38.60 mm in diameter) is much larger than both USA quarter (24.26 mm in diameter) and USA half dollar (30.61 mm in diameter).

How This Greenwich Meridian Silver Coin Was Created:

For over a century, a brass strip set in the courtyard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich marked the meridian line -zero degrees longitude.  In 1998, as part of the Millenium celebrations, the Royal Observatory laid down a new line to replace the old brass line.  Workers took up, melted down and drew the old brass line into a thin wire.  Then the Isle of Man struck just 10,000 proof Sterling Silver crowns with a superb reverse design displaying the Observatory clock encircled by the date of every century since 1000 – each coin bearing a piece of the old wire mounted in its center – to create superb millennium mementos.

Background For Greenwich Meridian Line:

As birthplace of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, Greenwich is the setting for some of Europe’s finest architecture.  Home to an outstanding collection of beautiful and historic buildings designed by Inigo Jones and Sir Christopher Wren, Greenwich was officially designated a World Heritage Site in 1997.  The Old Royal Observatory jewel of this World Heritage Site, has been the home of world time since 1884.   Prior to that date, almost every town in the world kept its own local time.   There were no national or international conventions which set how time should be measured, or when the day would begin or end, or even what length an hour might be. 

With the vast expansion of railways and communications networks during the 1850’s and 1860’s the worldwide need for an international time standard became imperative.  The Greenwich Meridian was chosen as the Prime Meridian of the world in 1884.  Forty-one delegates form 21 nations met in Washington, DC for the International Meridian Conference.  By the end of the conference, Greenwich had won the prize of longitude 0 degrees by a vote of 22:1 against Santo Domingo with two abstentions (France and Brazil).  There were two main reasons for the choice.  The first was the fact that the USA had already chosen Greenwich as the basis for its own national time zone.  The second was that in the late 19th century, 72 percent of the world’s commerce depended upon sea transport which used Greenwich as a prime Meridian.

You can read about the rest of the history of the Greenwich Meridian Line in the booklet that comes with this beautiful proof silver crown.

The Mint struck this Silver Proof Coin four times to achieve the legendary Pobjoy ‘Proof’ finish!

COIN SPECIFICATIONS:

METAL                 925 SILVER
FACE VALUE     1 CROWN
DIAMETER         38.60 MM
WEIGHT              28.28 GMS
WEIGHT OF BRASS LINE: 0.127 GMS
ISSUE LIMIT     10,000

Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of  world history!

This truly unique Silver Proof Crown Coin contains an embedded piece of brass from the original Greenwich Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory.

Pobjoy Mint struck his coin to the highest PROOF quality.  The design on each coin is in relief with a glorious mirror-finish background.

This truly remarkable coin is one that collectors and historians of all ages will be eager to own.  Add it to your collection today. Or give it as a great numismatic gift!

Disclaimers For This Greenwich Meridian Silver Coin IOM 2000 Unc.:

First, we enlarge photos in this listing to show details.

Next, coin may have superficial scratches and/or minor wear of finish and/or nicks from way these coins are stacked at the mint.

Further, coin may have minor spotting and/or oxidation.

Finally, coin you receive may vary somewhat from that shown but will be in same general condition.

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100% GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY.

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This listing includes free shipping to USA by USPS First Class Mail. With delivery confirmation.