1772 AE Medal Betts-552, Resolution & Adventure MS(PCGS#613148)

August 2023 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

2022

等级

MS62

价格

122,333

详细说明

Rare and Historic Resolution and Adventure Medal 1772 Resolution and Adventure Medal. Betts-552. Brass or "platina." MS-62 (PCGS). 42 mm. Original hanger and mount no longer present, but the condition of this specimen largely makes up for that. The surfaces seem largely hard and glossy with just a trace of mild granularity visible under magnification. Pleasantly bright golden patina remains through many of the recesses and close to the rims. A really lovely example of this famous medal, one that was distributed in this form to natives of the South Pacific, including Hawaii and Australia, and in at least one instance to Native Americans. The typical reverse exergual die crack, found on all awarded medals, is likewise found here. Two thousand Resolution and Adventure medals in this form were carried by Cook on his second voyage. Some remained until his third. They were distributed in much the same way as an Indian Peace medal might be, offered to cooperative or high-ranking natives as a token of esteem. Later, they were used as trade goods, as the men of the journey hoped to acquire enough furs to grow wealthy from the voyage. They were distributed in Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii (where Cook was eventually killed), among other South Pacific island; at least a few were distributed in what is today British Columbia at Nootka Sound in the spring of 1778. This presence in North America merited a mention in John Adams' book on Indian Peace medals of George III as an "opportunistic medal." Among the many beautiful and historic commemorative medals of this era collected in the Betts series, very few have such a direct link to history as this type. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.