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Adélie Land is the portion of
the Antarctic coast between Pourquoi Pas Point at 66°12′S, 136°11′E and
Point Alden at 66°48′S, 142°02′E, with a shore length of 350 km and with
its hinterland extending as a sector about 2600 km toward the South
Pole. It is one of four districts of the French Southern and Antarctic
Lands (other districts includes Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul, Iles
Crozet and Iles Kerguelen in Indian Ocean). Since the land is all South of the 60° parallel, its affiliation
with the French Southern and Antarctic Lands is suspended by the
Antarctic Treaty. The land area, mostly ice covered, is estimated at 432
000 km2, under French sovereignty since 1938.
Since January 12, 1956, there has been a permanently staffed French
research base, Dumont d'Urville Station, with a winter population of 33,
which goes up to 78 in the Antarctic summer. The first French station,
Port Martin, was built April 9, 1950 at 66°49′S, 141°23′E, but destroyed
by fire on January 21, 1952. France has also maintained an inland
station on the Antarctic ice sheet, 300 km from the coast and from
Dumont d'Urville Station, at an elevation of 2400 meters, Charcot
Station at 69°22′S, 139°01′E, from January 1957 to 1960, which housed
only three men. |
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Adélie Land borders on the Australian Antarctic Territory both West and
East, namely on Claire Land (part of Wilkes Land) in the West, and
George V Land in the East. The coast was discovered in 1837 by French
explorer Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville, who named it after his
wife, Adélie. |
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The Adélie Land 25 mm diameter,
plain edge coins are designed by Fred Richard Zinkann and minted at
Pressed Metal Products. I got the 25 Francs 2005 Titanium coin from Elizabeth Anne Zinkann (ezinkann@comcast.net).
One side displays Fleur-de-lis and anchor while the other features penguins
and crown.
The
dies broke during the minting of the fourth iridium coin, putting the
minting to a halt.
Below are their mintage and information in various metals:
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| Metal |
Year |
Weight |
Mintage |
Edge |
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| Copper (Cu) |
2005 |
5.5g |
02 |
Plain |
| Iridium (Ir) |
2005 |
13.6g |
04 |
Plain |
| Molybdenum (Mo) |
2005 |
5.2g |
01 |
Plain |
| Nickel (Ni) |
2005 |
5.3g |
52 |
Plain |
| Silver (Ag) |
2005 |
6.2g |
45 |
Plain |
| Titanium (Ti) |
2005 |
3.7g |
09 |
Plain |
| Copper
Nickel (CuNi) |
2005 (2007) |
5.7g |
50 |
Plain |
| Hafnium (Hf) |
2005 (2007) |
6.9g |
10 |
Plain |
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Information on Titanium:
Symbol: Ti, Atomic Number:
22, Atomic Weight: 47.867 g/mol, Density: 4.506 gˇcm−3, Melting Point: 1668
°C.
Titanium is a lustrous, lightweight, strong metal with excellent corrosion
resistance. It is the ninth most abundant element in the earth's crust.
Titanium is resistant to most acids and corrosive environments, however the
finely divided form will burn brilliantly in air, and is the only known
substance to burn in nitrogen. The main process for extracting titanium
metal is by reducing its chloride (a liquid at room temperature) with
magnesium. Titanium is as strong as steel, but about half the weight. As a
result the metal is extensively used in the aerospace industry, usually as
the main ingredient in an alloy. The dioxide is a white powder and is
extensively used for the white base in paint. Titanium is physiologically
inert, making it a good material to create artificial hips and other
biological implants. |
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Micro-Nations |
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Chiefa Coins |
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