This piece belongs to Cook Islands' long-running series of large-format silver issues struck under license arrangements that have made the territory one of the more prolific commemorative minting authorities since the 1970s. The "France II" designation refers to the French submarine France II, the largest sailing vessel ever built at the time of her 1911 launch — a five-masted steel barque of 5,806 gross tons constructed at Bordeaux for the New Caledonia nickel trade. She ran aground on a reef off New Caledonia in 1922.
This piece belongs to Cook Islands' long-running series of large-format silver issues struck under license arrangements that have made the territory one of the more prolific commemorative minting authorities since the 1970s. The "France II" designation refers to the French submarine France II, the largest sailing vessel ever built at the time of her 1911 launch — a five-masted steel barque of 5,806 gross tons constructed at Bordeaux for the New Caledonia nickel trade. She ran aground on a reef off New Caledonia in 1922.