Lot 3721

Description

Society of Arts, Mercury and Minerva Medal, 1753, in gold (22ct; 92.15g; 52mm) (Eimer 647), by W.Wyon, obverse, conjoined busts of Mercury and Minerva left, with the legend, 'Arts And Commerce Promoted', reverse, around the top is inscribed, 'To Mr. J.Park. MDCCCXVIII' (1818), below is a closed wreath and inside is inscribed, 'For His/Cast Iron Mooring/Block', at the base, 'Socy Insd/London 1753'. In an unofficial case, edge nicks and bump and a few areas on edge where the medal has been subject to gold testing, hairlines and a few scratches and digs, medal slightly bowed, otherwise extremely fine and scarce.

Records state that Mr J.Park was awarded a large gold medal as follows.

Description of a Mooring Block by Mr J.Park of Portsmouth with an engraving - letters to and from the Navy Board on his tests and development of an improved mooring block for the security of His Majesty's ships. This was done while he was an apprentice master-attendant at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard rising to the head of the department by 1812. The Navy Board found Mr Park's design was superior to anything else available and would prove advantageous to the Naval Service. An 11-page account of the above is recorded in The Repertory of Patent Inventions: And Other Discoveries and Improvements in Arts, Manufactures and Agriculture by G. and T.Wilkie, 1819, pp155-165.