VERY RARE SET.
COME'S WITH CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
1941 - 1991 Battle of Pearl Harbour
On 7th December 1941 Japanese carrier-based aircraft launched a surprise attack on an important United States military base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, thereby precipitating American involvement in World War II. The attack on Pearl Harbour signalled the extension of the war into the Pacific Islands. to mark the 50th anniversary of this event, the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands has authorised the Royal Mint to strike a limited number of four-coin gold Proof collections.
Forming a 900 mile chain across the south-west Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Islands were strategically important to the Japanese in their attempt to conquer the South Pacific. On 23rd January 1942 Japanese troops arrived occupying the western and central islands until August that same year when American forces landed on Florida and Guadalcanal Islands and began a six-month campaign ending in the expulsion of the Japanese Forces.
The reverse of the $10 has been designed by the Royal Mint engraver Robert Elderton while the reverse designs of the $25, $50, and $100 are by Dutch sculptor and medallist Willem Vis.
The $10 features a map of Pearl Harbour indicating the position of many of the United States Pacific Fleet vessels.
The $25 depicts an American soldier operating a machine gun. The skies above him are filled with Japanese Kate bombers shown in formation to emphasize the magnitude of the attack.
The $50 portrays a dramatic scene of conflict between Japanese Val dive-bombers and American gunners on the ground. The main superstructure of the battleship Nevada is outlined against a smoke-filled sky.
The $100 shows two US Dauntless fighter planes in combat with a Japanese Zero fighter. In the background can be seen the contours of two burning battleships, the West Virginia and the Tennessee.
Each obverse bears the elegant portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by sculptor Raphael Maklouf.
Only 500 of these collections were issued for worldwide distribution, although a further 2,500 gold proof $25 coins were struck for individual presentation.
All coins in this collection are legal tender and have been minted to the highest proof standard.
10 GBP - 16.50mm diameter, 3.13g weight, 999.9/1000 purity, Gold Content 0.1005
25 GBP - 22.00mm diameter, 7.81g weight, 999.9/1000 purity, Gold Content 0.2509
50 GBP - 27.00mm diameter, 15.61g weight, 999.9/1000 purity, Gold content 0.5014
100 GBP - 32.69mm diameter, 31.21g weight, 999.9/1000 purity, Gold content 1.0025