The Royal Canadian Mint has commemorated the 240th anniversary of James Cook arriving at Nootka Sound, Canada, in March 1778, with three coins featuring different designs on their reverse sides.  The first one ($1) shown here is by Maskull Lasserre.  It shows Cook and a Mowachaht chief with Resolution between them.  In the background is a map of Vancouver Island, and the coin is surrounded by nautical rope.  The second one ($30) depicted is by Neil Hamelin.  The Mowachaht beach keeper stands with one arm raised, while his right hand grips a paddle bearing a traditional motif.  Resolution is in the back­ground.  The third coin ($1) is by John Horton.

John Horton told me the background to this design.

Over the years I have studied and painted many works of Cook’s explorations of the west coast of Canada especially his stay in Nootka.  My inspiration has come from my visits to Ship Cove and Observatory Rock on my own boat, and painting onsite in Ship Cove itself.

Bad weather and general wear and tear on the ships had caused Cook to search for a safe haven where he could repair his ships, especially the damaged masts of HMS Resolution.

Nootka was the place he chose which would be of tremendous consequence for the future Canada. 

After landing in a place he named Ship Cove, on Bligh Island, Cook erected his observatory tent and raised the British flag, as an act of possession.  This became the foundation for the British claim to be upheld by Captain Vancouver and the British Government against the Spanish and even later American claims.  In future years this enabled Canada to go from “Sea to Sea”.

For this important reason my design zeros in on Ship Cove, Observatory Rock, HMS Resolution (under repair because that was the whole reason for being there), the observation tent, and the British flag in act of possession. 

I have indicated the native contact and a likeness of Cook along with Observatory Rock, the flag and the ship under repair and native contact.

Details of HMS Resolution were gleaned many years ago from the wonderful model owned by the Oregon Historical Society, which was constructed from actual drawings of the ship.

The likeness of Cook is based on the sculpture at Admiralty Arch, London. 

Ian Boreham

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 34, volume 41, number 3 (2018).

The Royal Mint has issued the first of three £2 coins to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Cook’s voyages to the Pacific.  The other two coins will be released in 2019 and 2020.  Each of the coins designed by Gary Breeze will depict an event for that year.  The 2018-dated coin is for Cook departing from Plymouth Sound.  It shows Endeavour, a chart of Plymouth Sound, and James Cook’s signature. 

Ian Boreham

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 34, volume 41, number 3 (2018).

Three $5 silver coins have been created with the help of the coin dealers Downies of Australia.  They have a common obverse of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth surrounded by the words “Elizabeth II • Cook Islands” and “1 oz 999 silver • 2018 • Five Dollars”.  The 999 refers to the metal purity of 99.90% silver. 

The reverse of the first coin shows a ship with the words “Endeavour sets sail” and “Captain Cook 1768”.  The second coin has Cook looking through a telescope with a ship and an island in the background, and the words “the Transit of Venus” and “Captain Cook 1769”.  The third coin has Cook with a chart and a kangaroo, with the outlines of New Zealand and Australia in the background, with the words “Charting the Southern Seas” and “Captain Cook 1770”. 

Ian Boreham

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 4, volume 41, number 2 (2018).