A notoriously inaccessible part of the Yosemite Valley, the forbidding peak of the Half Dome soars close to three thousand meters above sea level and had a unique shape — like a rock that had been cleft in twain by some kind of giant in the remote past, leaving a sheer granite plane as one of its faces — that made it a draw for the explorer in the 19th century. The first climber to reach its summit had to improvise the early version of a modern climbing technology known as the piton to make his ascent possible. This mountaineer, George Anderson, blazed the trail to the peak in 1875 and made it possible for the mountain to become an annual destination for hikers, commemorated by the 2023 Proof Cook Islands Half Dome 2 oz Silver Coin.

Highlights:

• Arrives in its original mint capsule with a Certificate of Authenticity!
• Issued in 2023!
• Limited mintage of just 1,500 coins!
• Contains 2 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Legal tender of the Cook Islands, bearing a face value of $10 (NZD).
• Obverse side features an effigy of the late Elizabeth II.
• Reverse side features a full-color portrait of the Half Dome.

The 2023 Proof Cook Islands Half Dome Silver Coin shows the famous mountain in gorgeous full color, offset against a proof-quality mirrored backdrop. It ships in its original-mint capsule with a Certificate of Authenticity, and shipments are tracked and fully insured by the team at Provident Metals.

Obverse

The coin’s obverse side features the late Queen Elizabeth II in the famous Ian Rank-Broadley effigy from 1998 that verifies its status as legal tender of the Cook Islands. She is surrounded at the rim by the inscriptions “Elizabeth II,” “10 Dollars,” “Cook Islands” and “2023.”

Reverse

A realistic full-color portrait of Half Dome is featured on the reverse, showing the mountain’s unique and forbidding profile and sheer granite face. This is joined by the inscription “HALF DOME” and a pickaxe with the smaller inscription “2.893 m” to indicate the peak’s altitude.

History

California’s Yosemite Valley is an iconic American wilderness site: home to numerous waterfalls, trails, and cliffs that draw thousands of outdoors enthusiasts every year. The Half Dome is its most instantly recognizable feature, a massive mountain whose peak soars almost three thousand meters above sea level and whose sheer face seemed totally accessible before 1875. In that year, George Anderson pioneered an early version of modern climbing methods by drilling holes in the granite face and sinking eye bolts into it, eventually stringing ropes through them on a semi-permanent basis to help further climbers follow his ascent. His route up the mountain is still followed by hikers and climbers to this day.

Ordering

The team at Provident Metals is standing by to answer any questions you might have about our listings. Phone us at 800-313-3315, send us an e-mail inquiry, or chat live online with one of our agents.