Frederik @ the Royal Mint to strike gold

Photo: Steen Brogaard

A little more catch up. Also on January 28, 2008, there was a special treat for Crown Prince Frederik when he visited The Royal Mint and Denmark's National Bank in Broendby. Here Frederik struck the first gold coin in the second of the series of three of Polar coins, this one inspired by the Sirius Patrol. Crown Prince Frederik is the Danish patron of the International Polar Year.

In February 2000 Crown Prince Frederik was one of the six men who made the 3,500 kilometre polar expedition through one of the world's largest and least explored high Arctic landscapes. The Sirius 2000 expedition marked the Sirius Patrol's 50th anniversary and took a course along the north and northeastern coast of Greenland, from Qaanaaq in the west, to Daneborg in the east. The Sirius Patrol is carried out by the Danish Special Forces each year in what is the largely uninhabited topmost northeast part of Greenland. In preserved parkland territory, Denmark has monitored and protected the area by using special forces who travel by dog sleds and sea kayaks. The Sirius Patrol keeps a two-man team in the area year round who effectively represent Danish sovereignty. Sirius patrollers are known for their endurance under the harshest conditions and the dogs are bred specially to pull the sledges and work with the personnel of the Sirius Patrol. Since no one can afford to be injured breaking up dog fights while on patrol, pups are assessed for their good disposition while they are being raised. The Sirius Patrol is named after Sirius Alpha Canis Majoris, the ‘Dog Star’.

Polar coins: The first polar coin in a new series with the Polar regions as common theme was issued on 26 March 2007. The series will comprise three coins and is launched to mark the International Polar Year 2007-2009. All polar coins will have motifs inspired by the Polar areas of Greenland. The final coin will be issued in 2009.

New coin series with Polar theme
To mark the International Polar Year, Danmarks Nationalbank launches the first coin in a new series of polar coins on 26 March 2007.
The new Polar series will comprise three coins, which will be issued in the period 2007 to 2009.

The motif of the first coin is a polar bear. The polar bear is chosen because of its great importance to the Greenland culture. On the coin you will see the polar bear standing on a split ice floe. The motif is designed by the Greenland artist Niels Motzfeldt, who also designed the motif on the tower coin "Three Brothers". The obverse of the coin carries a portrait of the Queen in profile.

Second coin inspired by the Sirius Sledge Patrol
The motif of the second coin is designed by the sculptor Margrete Sørensen, who has been inspired by Greenland, the Sirius Sledge Patrol and the 'Canis Major' constellation with Sirius as its brightest star.

The Polar coin is minted as a 10-krone coin in 1.2 million copies and will be part of the ordinary coin circulation. The Polar coin will also be issued as collector coins in fine silver and gold. The silver version will have the face value of 100 kroner, while the gold coin will have a face value of 1,000 kroner. The recommended retail prices including Danish VAT are DKK 2,500 for the gold coin and DKK 300 for the silver coin. The gold and silver coins are minted in a number not exceeding 6,000 and 50,000, respectively.

The gold coins are minted in gold originating from Greenland. Danmarks Nationalbank has acquired the gold from the Nalunaq Gold Mine by Nanortalik in the South of Greenland. This goldmine also delivered the gold to the wedding rings of the Danish Crown Prince and Crown Princess. (press release)
Sirius Polar Coin
New Polar coin inspired by the Sirius Patrol
Royal Mint photo gallery
Sirius coin high resolution photo
Polar bear coin high resolution photo
Defence Force news 'Siriuspatruljen på mønten' (in Danish)
Sermitsiaq.gl 'Nye mønter med Siriuspatruljen' (in Danish) - you can click on news in English about Greenland (often an interesting read!)

About the Sirius Patrol:
Danish Special Forces (in Danish) conduct the patrol
One man's experience...
on wikipedia

For the coin collectors: the first coin was a polar bear and now the second, recognising the Sirius Patrol