South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands 2 Pounds 2004 — Centenary of Grytviken

This commemorative 2 pound coin was issued in 2004 to mark the centenary of the founding of Grytviken — the only permanent settlement on the island of South Georgia. The coin is struck in cupro-nickel and is a non-circulating collector issue.

The obverse features a crowned profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (the fourth portrait, sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley). The inscription "SOUTH GEORGIA & SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS" and the year "2004" run around the coin.

The reverse shows a portrait above an image of a ship in the harbour. The inscriptions "1904 CENTENARY OF GRYTVIKEN 2004" and the denomination "TWO POUNDS" surround the design.

Grytviken was established in 1904 by Norwegian Carl Anton Larsen as the island's first shore-based whaling station and its first permanent settlement. The name of the celebrated polar explorer Ernest Shackleton is inseparably linked to this place: he stopped here in 1914 on his way to his legendary Antarctic expedition, and in 1922 he died during another voyage and was buried in Grytviken. Today the settlement is home to scientists of the British Antarctic Survey and hosts a museum dedicated to the island's history and the era of whaling.