Silver Kilo 2023 Mt Everest - First Ascent, Coin from Cook Islands - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: ELIZABETH II 100 DOLLARS COOK ISLANDS 2023.

The effigy and inscriptions are small and are in the lower left.. Most of the obverse features depicts two mountain climbers, seen from the back, walking on a thin path towards Mount Everest.

In small letters around the rim, the inscription: ON 29 MAY 1953, NEW ZEALAND-BORN HILLARY AND HIS NEPALESE MOUNTAINEERING PARTNER TENZING NORGAY, BECAME THE FIRST HUMANS TO STAND ON THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST. AS MEMBERS OF THE 1953 BRITISH MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDITION, THEIR TRIUMPH WAS THE GLORIOUS RESULT OF A LONG, COMPLEX AND BRILLIANTLY CO-ORDINATED CAMPAIGN.

The reverse is coloured and depicts an aerial view of Mount Everest, with a dotted line marking the route to the top.

On two lines above, the inscription MT. EVEREST 1953 FIRST ASCENT.

Finish: proof, coloured, smartminting (Ultra High Relief).
CIT Item ID: 30382.

The coin has the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, even though it was issued during the reign of King Charles III.