Description
In 2016 The Royal Mint produced this Campo del Cielo Meteorite $20 Cook Islands coin in 3oz of .999 pure fine silver. Campo del Cielo is a group of iron based meteorites located on the border between Chaco & Santiago del Estro (620mi NW of Buenos Aires, Argentina). The crater field from these meteorites coves an area of 3x18.5km, with 26 craters, the largest being 115x91m. The age of these meteorites & their respective craters is around 4,000-5,000 years old. Inside the craters are iron masses, which were first reported back in 1576, but we already known to the aboriginal inhabitants of the area. The craters & the area around them, contain numerous fragments of iron meteorites, with the total weight of collected pieces currently exceeding 100 tons. This specially designed coin, showcases all of the unique features of the area, even including an actual fragment of one of the meteorites from Campo del Cielo. The obverse of this coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with a meteorite mid-entry burning up as it falls. The lettering, "ELIZABETH II", "20 DOLLARS", "COOK ISLANDS", & the 2016 year-date, hug the rim of the coin. At the center is a special window feature that when held against a light shows a small color image of the Milk Way Galaxy. The reverse features a unique concave design, to look like one of the craters at the Campo del Cielo site. The galaxy window is set into the center of the crater, giving the same view as the obverse. Below the galaxy window is an actual piece of meteorite from Campo del Cielo. The lettering, "CAMPO DEL CIELO", "PINGÜEN N'ONAxA", "CHACO AUSTRAL", & "ARGENTINA" encircle the crater. This coin was given a special 'antique' finish to help highlight the detailing on both the obverse & reverse. Included with the coin is its original mint packaging, decorative display box, plastic capsule, & full-color laminated Certificate of Authenticity. The Royal Mint ran a limited mintage of this coin, with only 333 ever produced. The numbered Certificate of Authenticity shows that this coin is number 90 out of 333. 2016 Royal Mint Campo Del Cielo Meteorite 3Oz .999 Fine Silver Cook Islands 20 Dollar Coin with Real Fragment in Original Box
