- Country:Canada
- Collection:Gold Commemorative $100
- Metal:Gold
- Year:2010
- Denomination:$100
- Finish:Complete
- Weight (oz):0.225
- Purity:0.583
- Mintage:2133
- Product type:Coin
14-Karat Gold Coin - 400th Anniversary of the Discovery of Hudson's Bay (2010)
John Cabotà Martin Frobisherà John Davisà Henry Hudson.More than a century after Cabot, Hudson began his questfor the elusive northwest passage to Asia. After three failedattempts, Hudson sailed for Iceland in 1610. From there, hecrossed Davis Strait into the treacherous waters explorerscalled the Furious Overfall (modern-day Hudson Strait).After months of turbulent, ice-filled water and jagged reefs,the strait opened up. Hudson believed he had reached thePacific Ocean, but he was mistaken; Discovery was in a vastinland bay that looked deceptively like the open sea. TheSpice Islands were still out of reach, but Hudson had faroutdistanced his predecessors-and his discovery proved tobe of immeasurable value to England's expanding fur trade.
Highlights: Anyone who has ever admired the spirit andskill of early European explorers will be delighted to own thisexquisitely-crafted 14-karat gold coin. Superior sculpting makesit a veritable work of art; its collectability greatly enhanced byits limited mintage of only 5,000 coins worldwide.
Reverse: Henry Hudson in period dress, charting his voyageon a 17th-century map, his astrolabe and sextant at the ready.