Summary

Australia
2007 (AD)
One Dollar Uncirculated coin .
International Polar Year 2007-2008. Polar Series.
Issued by Royal Australian Mint in presentation case.
Presented to : Dr Phillip G. Law
Designer: W. Pietranik.

The International Polar Year 2007-2008 is a program of outreach and education into polar science. It is sponsored by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), to examine the Earth's Polar regions and their effect on the global environment. The Royal Society of Victoria is also involved with IPY.

Dr Phillip Garth Law, A.C., C.B.E., F.T.S.E., F.A.A, was the first Director of the Antarctic Division of the Commonwealth Department of External Affairs, now the Australian Antarctic Division of the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage. Under Dr Law's Directorship Australia established a permanent presence in Antarctica. Joining the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) in 1947, Dr Law was appointed Director of the newly-formed Division in 1949, a post he held until his retirement in 1966. He was instrumental in the development of the Antarctic Division and the ANARE programs and led the expeditions that established Australia's three Antarctic stations: Mawson in 1954; Davis in 1957; and Casey in 1964. These expeditions and others led by Dr Law between 1954 and 1966 explored and mapped 5000 kilometres of the coastline of the Australian Antarctic Territory while the wintering parties at ANARE stations under his direction explored nearly 2 million square kilometres of previously unknown territory. During this time an extensive variety of scientific programs was developed including Australia's contributions to the International Geophysical Year. Phillip Law has received wide recognition for his work including Australia's highest award (the A.C.), the British C.B.E. and Polar Medal, the Founder's Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, honorary doctorates from three Australian universities and a number of other awards. He was a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Physical Description

An aluminium /bronze coin in plastic coin capsule, in presentation case.

Obverse Description

Head of Elizabeth II. Around, ELIZABETH II / AUSTRALIA 2007. Artist's initials IRB.

Reverse Description

Image of ship Aurora (based on Frank Hurley photograph) with penguins in foreground. Map of Antarctica in background, with Australian bases Mawson Casey and Davis indicated. Across centre, 90 degrees East and West is marked. Above ship, 1 DOLLAR. Around, AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC TERRITORY / INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR 2007-2008.

Significance

The International Polar Year 2007-2008 is a program of outreach and education into polar science. It is sponsored by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), to examine the Earth's Polar regions and their effect on the global environment. Museum Victoria undertakes research in Antarctica, and is conducting public programs as part of the IPY.
This is the first of three coins in the Polar Series.
International Polar Year 2007-2008 is the fourth international Polar year following the first in 1882-83 and again in 1932-33 and 1957-1958. They are opportunities to focus scientific research on the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

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