The top 3 coins also have gold plating — see the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) in the pictures. The pictures are of the actual set you will get. From a smoke-free home. Description from the Royal Canadian Mint Website. From the Bering Strait to the Antarctic Circle, and many of the Pacific islands in between, this British navigator charted more terra incognita than any other in his time. This year marks the 240th anniversary of Cook’s arrival at the summer village of the Nuu-chah-nulth, at Nootka Sound, which led to increased international trade and exploration along Canada’s western shores. Your coin set is among our best-sellers every year since 1937. Continue the tradition and order your coin set today! Your pure silver proof set features include: 240TH ANNIVERSARY! The hand-polished dies were frequently replaced, and the relief struck as many as three times, in order to achieve the crisp impression on abrilliant field. Beautifully presented in a genuine leather book-style that offers an elegant way to proudly showcase your coin. THE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME OF COLLECTOR SETS! The 99.99% pure silver proof dollar with stunning gold plating makes this the crème de lacrème of collector sets. AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY IN THIS SET! The gold plated 99.99% pure silver proof dollar only available in this set showcases an artistic rendering of Captain James Cook’s arrival at Nootka Sound in April 1778. In addition to the gold-plated silver dollar, the 99.99% pure silver loonie and 99.99% pure silver toonie feature gold plating. INCLUDES THE 50-CENT COIN! Features Canada’s Coat of Arms in 99.99% pure silver! The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins. Most of these are serialized certifications, meaning that each certificate is given a unique number, starting at 1. 99.99% PURE SILVER! Your coin set has been expertly crafted in 99.99% pure silver with a proof finish that accentuates every detail to stunning effect! Design: On your proof dollar, Maritime artist John Horton presents an artistic rendering of Captain James Cook’s arrival at Nootka Sound in April 1778. Towering mountains and the timbered headland of Bligh Island provide a stunning backdrop to this historical portrait, all precisely engraved in a superb proof finish and framed by a nautical twisted rope. In the water, a group of Nuu-chah-nulth approach the Resolution in a canoe, ready to extend a friendly greeting. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. History remembers Cook as the explorer whose voyages and exceptional surveying skills changed European perceptions of the Pacific region, by mapping many unknown shores throughout this vast expanse of ocean. During his first two voyages-one from 1768 to 1771 and another from 1772 to 1775-Cook became the first European explorer to reach New Zealand and Australia’s east coast, and the first to cross the Antarctic Circle. On April 1, 1778, HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery dropped anchor near Yuquot, on the western coast of Vancouver Island. Cook was cordially welcomed by Maquinna, chief of the Mowachat group of the Nuu-chah-nulth, leading the crew to refer to the area as Friendly Cove. He was not the first European navigator to explore Canada’s West Coast, but his was the first prolonged stay. The expedition set sail once more on April 26, 1778, on a northerly course toward the Bering Sea. But Cook would not find the Northwest Passage; stopped by the Arctic’s unyielding cold and ice, the expedition made a return trip to the Hawaiian islands discovered the year before, where Cook was killed in 1779. His legacy of exploration left an indelible imprint on the history of the Pacific region, and Canada too, where places like Cook’s Harbour N. And Resolution Cove B. Are lasting reminders of his passage through our coastal waters. Did you know. Cook served as master of HMS Pembroke during the Seven Years’ War, where he participated in the Siege of Louisbourg and the Battle of Quebec. But it was his skills as a cartographer that brought him to the attention of the Admiralty and the Royal Society-especially his detailed mapping of the Saint Lawrence River, which played a role in changing the course of Canadian history. Between 1762 and 1768, Cook explored Canada’s eastern coastline. His survey of Newfoundland’s coast resulted in the first large-scale, scientifically accurate charts of the coastal waters. Even in the 20th century, Cook’s maps continued to serve as a useful reference tool for those sailing through these often-tricky waters. The name “Nootka Sound” may have arisen from a misunderstanding: It has been said that upon arriving, Cook mistakenly interpreted “itchme nutka” (“go around”) as the name for the area he had originally named King George’s Sound. International trade flourished at Nootka Sound after Cook’s expedition. A decade later, competing claims over trade and navigation in the area pushed the two European nations to the brink of war. George Vancouver served as midshipman onboard Resolution during Cook’s second voyage, and served on Discovery during the third voyage. He would return to Nootka Sound in 1792 while extensively charting the coast of British Columbia-including the island that bears his name. William Bligh, the master onboard Resolution, is another familiar name in maritime history-although he is perhaps more widely remembered for the mutiny that occurred onboard HMS Bounty during his command. Daily bathing was required, and Cook also sought out fresh fruit at every stop to keep scurvy at bay. Packaging: Your set includes a numbered certificate with detailed coin specifications-your proof of ownership for this low mintage premium proof set and evidence that each coin has been individually inspected by our resident quality assurance specialists. Your 99.99% pure silver proof set comes in an elegant genuine leather book-style packaging that complements your beautiful coins. Order your 99.99% pure silver coin set today! Specifications Product Number 164786 Mintage 15,000.