Lot 621

Description

Captain James Cook, memorial medal in silver (43mm) by L.Pingo for the Royal Society in 1784 (MH 374, BHM 258, Eimer 780). Even grey toning, virtually as struck, uncirculated.

Cook had first seen the Americas when, as Master of the Mercury he surveyed the St. Lawrence River as part of General Wolf's expedition to capture Quebec. He continued to serve on the North American Station till 1767. He twice circumnavigated the globe, first in 1768-71 and later 1772-75. On his return he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He had left on his third voyage in 1776 and was murdered by natives in the Sandwich Islands in 1779. The Royal Society issued this tribute medal in 1784 and struck examples of this medal in gold (19), silver (291) and bronzed copper (574). A specimen in gold was given to his widow and is now in the British Museum. The portrait was copied by John Flaxman when designing the well-known Wedgwood jasperware plaquette.