The British Antarctic Territory, established as a separate crown territory in 1962, issues coins primarily as collectibles — actual commerce in the territory is negligible, with no permanent civilian population. The southern right whale depicted on this issue was hunted to near-extinction by the 19th century, its slow swimming speed and tendency to float when killed making it the preferred target of commercial whalers operating in these same waters.
The British Antarctic Territory, established as a separate crown territory in 1962, issues coins primarily as collectibles — actual commerce in the territory is negligible, with no permanent civilian population. The southern right whale depicted on this issue was hunted to near-extinction by the 19th century, its slow swimming speed and tendency to float when killed making it the preferred target of commercial whalers operating in these same waters.