USNS-KER-C 001

Year: 1981
Metal: Tungsten
Condition: BU
Designer: Fred Zinkann
Mint: 
Mintage: 3
Weight:
Diameter:  
Denomination: 25 Francs
Edge type:

Stylised Arrow Symbol

Stylised Snowflake

USNS-KER-C 002A

Year: 2003
Metal: .999 Silver
Condition: Proof Essay
Designer: Fred Zinkann
Mint: Northwest Territory Mint
Mintage: 90
Weight: 5.5 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Denomination: 20 Francs
Edge type: Reeded

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

USNS-KER-C 002C

Year: 2003
Metal: .210 Gold alloy (5 karat)
Condition: Proof Essay
Designer: Fred Zinkann
Mint: Northwest Territory Mint
Mintage: 4
Weight: 4.95 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Denomination: 20 Francs
Edge type: Reeded

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

USNS-KER-C 003A

Year: 2004
Metal: .999 Silver
Condition: Proof Essay
Designer: Fred Zinkann
Mint: Northwest Territory Mint
Mintage: 108
Weight: 6.6 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Denomination: 20 Francs
Edge type: Reeded

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

USNS-KER-C 003B

Year: 2004
Metal: .995 Tantalum
Condition: Proof Essay
Designer: Fred Zinkann
Mint: Northwest Territory Mint
Mintage: 38
Weight: 6.6 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Denomination: 20 Francs
Edge type: Reeded

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

USNS-KER-C 003C

Year: 2004
Metal: .210 Gold alloy (5 karat)
Condition: Proof Essay
Designer: Fred Zinkann
Mint:  Northwest Territory Mint
Mintage: 1 (unique)
Weight: 4.9 g
Diameter: 22 mm
Denomination: 20 Francs
Edge type: Reeded

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

Enflamed Crown

Field of Stars

The Kerguelen Islands are an archipelago of some 300 islands, islets and reefs, located in the South Indian Ocean, approximately 5310 kilometres southeast of the southern tip of Africa. They were discovered in 1772 by the navigator C Y J de Kerguelen-Trémarec, as part of the search for the great southern continent. Kerguelen Island itself is the largest of the island group, a sub-antarctic island of volcanic origin, also aptly known as Desolation Island. The archipelago is part of the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF) - the French Southern and Antarctic Territories - which also includes the Crozet Archipelago, the tiny islands of Amsterdam/St-Paul, and Terre Adélie (Adélieland) on the Antarctic mainland.

The coins of Kerguelen are private pattern fantasy issues minted by Mr Fred Zinkann, a member of the Unrecognised States Numismatic Society who has pioneered the striking of coins in many unconventional metals. The first Kerguelen coins were minted in 1981, but the dies broke after only three coins were minted. In 2003 Mr Zinkann minted a second series for Kerguelen, but was not pleased with the results. This led to the minting of a third series in 2004.

© 2005, USNS / G Cruickshank. Information and scans courtesy of C Shiboleth, F Zincann and G Cruickshank.