South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands 2 Pounds 2015 — 240th Anniversary of the Discovery of South Georgia

This commemorative 2 pound coin was issued in 2015 to mark the 240th anniversary of the discovery of South Georgia by Captain James Cook. The coin is struck in cupro-nickel and is a collector issue.

The obverse features a tiara-wearing bust of Queen Elizabeth II, sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley. The inscription "SOUTH GEORGIA & SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS" and the year "2015" run around the coin.

The reverse depicts Cook's ship HMS Resolution in Antarctic waters. Against the backdrop of a large iceberg, a sailor is seen chipping ice from a smaller floe to replenish the ship's fresh water supplies. The inscriptions "CAPTAIN JAMES COOK", "DISCOVERY OF SOUTH GEORGIA 1775", and the denomination "£2" surround the design.

Captain James Cook reached the shores of South Georgia on 17 January 1775, landed on the island, and formally claimed it for the British Crown, naming it after King George III. Although Cook dismissively described his find as a place "not worth the discovery",