Summary
Resolution and Adventure medal, in platina (gilt), by John Westwood for Matthew Boulton and Sir Joseph Banks, issued 1772.
Sir Joseph Banks for the British Admiralty commissioned the Resolution and Adventure medal, to be used on Cook's second voyage (1772-1775) as an item for presentation or barter with the local peoples. Matthew Boulton's firm struck 2,000 medals in platina for this purpose, and also 142 in silver and 2 in gold, for Banks to distribute to officials and nobility in Britain. Many of the platina medals were used for presentation through the Pacific as barter, but others were distributed to sailors on the voyage, and some remained for use on Cook's 3rd voyage.
The medal is called the Resolution and Adventure medal because it depicts the two ships used on Cook's second voyage.
Obverse Description
Laureate bust of George III. Around: GEORGE III. KING OF GR BRITAIN FRANCE AND IRELAND ETC. In truncation , BF [Boulton & Fothergill].
Reverse Description
Two three-masted sailing ships in heavy seas. Raised text above the names of the ships reads; 'RESOLUTION ADVENTURE'. Text in exergue reads; 'SAILED . FROM . ENGLAND / MARCH . MDCCLXXII'.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
Public Life & Institutions, Numismatics & Philately, Transport
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Date Issued
1772 AD
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Issued By
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Person Depicted
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Commissioned By
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Engraver
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Manufacturer
Matthew Boulton - Soho (Mint), Soho, West Midlands, England, Great Britain, 1772
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Expedition Leader
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Material
Gold-plated
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Axis
180
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Diameter
42.5 mm (Outside Diameter)
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Shape
Round with mount
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References
For a detailed recent account of the medals and the specimens held by the South Australian Museum, see Peter, Lane, 'Captain Cook's Exploration Medals, in [Link 1]
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Keywords
Australian Exploration, Pacific Colonialism, Pacific Exploration, Pacific Islands, Pacific Trade, Sailing Vessels
