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SOUVENIR COINS OF KERGUELEN ISLANDS
The Kerguelen Islands (Îles Kerguelen or Archipel de Kerguelen but officially Archipel des Kerguelen or Archipel Kerguelen), also known as Desolation Islands, are a group of islands in the southern Indian Ocean constituting the emerged part of the otherwise submerged Kerguelen Plateau. The islands are a territory of France. There are no indigenous inhabitants, but France maintains a permanent presence of 50 to 100 scientists, engineers and researchers.
The main island, Grande Terre is surrounded by a further 300 smaller islands and islets, forming an archipelago. The climate is raw and chilly with frequent high winds throughout the year. Since there is no airport on the islands, all travel and transport from the outside world is conducted by ship.
The islands, along with Adelie Land, the Crozet Islands and the Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and are administered as a separate district.
They were discovered by the Breton-French navigator Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen de Tremarec in February 1772. Soon after their discovery, the archipelago was regularly visited by whalers and sealers (mostly British, American and Norwegian) who hunted the resident populations of whales and seals to the point of near extinction, including fur seals in the 18th century and elephant seals in the 19th century. Since the end of the whaling and sealing era, most of the islands' species have been able to re-establish themselves.
In the past, a number of expeditions briefly visited the islands, including that of Captain James Cook in 1776. In 1874 – 1875, British, German and U.S. expeditions visited Kerguelen to observe the transit of Venus.
The Kerguelen Islands, along with the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul, and the Crozet archipelago were officially annexed by France in 1893, they were included as possessions (in addition to that portion of Antarctica claimed by France and known as Adelie Land as with all Antarctic territorial claims, France's possession is held in abeyance until a new international treaty is ratified that defines each claimants rights and obligations) in the French constitution in 1924.
The German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis called at Kerguelen during December 1940. During their stay the crew performed maintenance and replenished their water supplies. This ship's first fatality of the war occurred when a sailor, Bernhard Herrmann, fell while painting the funnel. He is buried in what is sometimes referred to as "the most southerly German war grave" of World War II.
Kerguelen has been continually occupied since 1950 by scientific research teams, with a population of 50 to 100 frequently present. There is also a French satellite tracking station.
Until 1955, the Kerguelen Islands were part of the French colony of Madagascar. That same year they collectively became known as Les Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and were administratively part of the French Department d`outre-mer de la Reunion. In 2004 they were permanently transformed into their own entity (keeping the same name) but having inherited another group of five very remote tropical islands, les Îles Eparses, which are also owned by France and are dispersed widely throughout the southern Indian Ocean.
In 2011, for numismatic purposes and to attract tourists have been issued coins with depicting wildlife of the islands. On the obverse of the coins placed conventional arms Kerguelen Islands – a part of the emblem of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, created in 1950 by Suzanne Gauthier.
Coat of arms is divided into four fields – two blue and two gold. In the first field there is depicted the Kerguelen cabbage (representing the Kerguelen Islands), in the second – lobster (Amsterdam Island), the third – the head of the crowned king penguin (Island Crozet Islands), in the fourth – iceberg (Adelie Land region of Antarctica). Shield is supported by two elephant seals. On the top of the shield – the motto: "Territoire des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises", two anchors and three stars. At the souvenir Kerguelen coins this motto is replaced by the name of the islands.

10.06. 2011.

Click to enlarge!	Denomination: 100 Francs Year: 2011 Material: Brass Description: Obverse: In the center – the conventional arms Kerguelen: two elephant seals supported a shield with the image of the Kerguelen cabbage. Above the shield is an inscription on the background of two anchors and three stars: ILE KERGUELEN. Under the coat of arms – year of issue: 2011. Reverse: In the center of the coin – a soaring albatross. Above – face value: 100 franks. Under the image – name of the bird: ALBATROS, underneath in two lines – the scientific name: diomedea exulans. Diameter – 30.50 mm., weight – 11.98 g., edge plain. Country or town: Kerguelen Islands
	Denomination: 200 Francs Year: 2011 Material: Bimetal Description: Obverse: In the center – the conventional arms Kerguelen: two elephant seals supported a shield with the image of the Kerguelen cabbage. Above the shield is an inscription on the background of two anchors and three stars: ILE KERGUELEN. Under the coat of arms – year of issue: 2011. Reverse: In the center of the coin – family of penguins. Above – face value: 200 franks. Under the image – inscription: PINGUIN, underneath in two lines – the scientific name: Aptenodytes forsteri. Bimetal. Metal of ring – copper-nickel; metal of insert – brass. Diameter – 24.50 mm., weight – 6.00 g., edge plain. FMM hasn't got the coin yet. Country or town: Kerguelen Islands
Click to enlarge!	Denomination: 500 Francs Year: 2011 Material: Bimetal Description: Obverse: In the center – the conventional arms Kerguelen: two elephant seals supported a shield with the image of the Kerguelen cabbage. Above the shield is an inscription on the background of two anchors and three stars: ILE KERGUELEN. Under the coat of arms – year of issue: 2011. Reverse: In the center of the coin – two sperm whales. Above – face value: 500 franks. Under the image – name of the animal: CACHALOT, underneath in two lines – the scientific name: physeter catodon. Bimetal. Metal of ring – brass; metal of insert – copper-nickel. Diameter – 29.00 mm., weight – 8.35 g., edge plain. Country or town: Kerguelen Islands

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