Very Cool Captain James Cook Bronze Medal
Broadstruck
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I can't recall the last time I saw one of these... it's a very cool offering on Mark Feld's site. 
Does anyone have any more info on this bad boy then description
*NEW* (C1783) Betts-553 43.5mm Captain James Cook Bronze Medal NGC MS64BN $2650
I have this impressive looking medal on consignment from a client and confess to knowing virtually nothing about it. However, he was kind enough to point me to an offering of one which was graded AU55BN by NGC and which appeared in the November 2007 Baltimore Bowers sale as lot #3. That one went unsold with a pre-sale estimate of $2500-$3000 and was described as follows:
" 42 mm. Struck in Bronze. This is an original Portrait Medal, engraved by Lewis Pingo (1743-1830), who was the chief engraver and sculptor for the Royal Mint. This is one of only 574 pieces struck in bronze in 1784 for the Royal Society. The obverse has a portrait of Captain Cook in uniform at center, facing left. The reverse shows “Fortune” holding a naval rudder atop a globe. Cook became a Fellow (member) of the Royal Society in 1776, following his second circumnavigation of the world, and in 1784 The Society issued this tribute medal in his honor. Cook left on his third voyage around the world in 1776 but was killed by natives in Hawaii in 1779. It is a lovely high quality medal having very light toning in the beautiful prooflike, mahogany-brown fields. Estimate: $2,500 - $3,000 "
Does anyone have any more info on this bad boy then description
*NEW* (C1783) Betts-553 43.5mm Captain James Cook Bronze Medal NGC MS64BN $2650
I have this impressive looking medal on consignment from a client and confess to knowing virtually nothing about it. However, he was kind enough to point me to an offering of one which was graded AU55BN by NGC and which appeared in the November 2007 Baltimore Bowers sale as lot #3. That one went unsold with a pre-sale estimate of $2500-$3000 and was described as follows:
" 42 mm. Struck in Bronze. This is an original Portrait Medal, engraved by Lewis Pingo (1743-1830), who was the chief engraver and sculptor for the Royal Mint. This is one of only 574 pieces struck in bronze in 1784 for the Royal Society. The obverse has a portrait of Captain Cook in uniform at center, facing left. The reverse shows “Fortune” holding a naval rudder atop a globe. Cook became a Fellow (member) of the Royal Society in 1776, following his second circumnavigation of the world, and in 1784 The Society issued this tribute medal in his honor. Cook left on his third voyage around the world in 1776 but was killed by natives in Hawaii in 1779. It is a lovely high quality medal having very light toning in the beautiful prooflike, mahogany-brown fields. Estimate: $2,500 - $3,000 "
To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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1132 York Ave
NYC, NY 10065
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1132 York Ave
NYC, NY 10065 >>
Is that where this medal was found?
Banks had been a long time friend of James Cook. He had explored Newfoundland and Labrador with Lt. Cook in the late 1760's. He was later on board the HMS Endeavor with Cook for 3 years (1769-1771) and made many important discoveries.
Banks, a world reknown botanist, commissioned Mathew Boulton to strike approximately 2,000 trade medals for Cook's second voyage (ref. Betts 552) even though he was not able to go again with (now Captain) Cook on his second voyage (1772-1775). Interestingly, the sailing master for Cook's second voyage was Lt. William Bligh.
Regrettably, Cook was killed by natives over a mis-understanding about a small boat in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) at Kealakekua Bay in February 1779.
<< <i>
<< <i>Mobil
1132 York Ave
NYC, NY 10065 >>
Is that where this medal was found? >>
That's the answer to his pre-edit post.