Historical Sketch
The existence of a southern continent had been postulated since the 16th century. The first confirmed landing was made in 1820 by the Russian navigator Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, several states laid claim to parts of the continent and offshore islands. The Antarctic Treaty came into force in mid-1961, placing the South Pole area under protection and allowing only scientific research. All seven signatory states (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway) have suspended their territorial claims until further notice, but without renouncing them.
Monetary History Overview
The Antarctic region is uninhabited. Great Britain has enacted a distinct currency legislation for the British Antarctic Territory in 1990, and since 2008 the issuance of collector coins has started.
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