Royal Society's Medal in commemoration of Captain Cook (1784)

Details

[JAMES COOK, R.N., F.R.S. (1728-1789)]
Royal Society's Medal in commemoration of Captain Cook (1784)
silver medal, by L. Pingo, the obverse with a bust of Cook and legend 'IAC.COOK OCEANI INVESTIGATOR ACERRIMUS REG SOC LOND SOCIO SUO', the reverse with an emblematical figure of Britannia and legend 'NIL INTENTATUM NOSTRI LIQUERE, in the exergue AUSPICIIS GEORGII III L.P.f.'
43.5mm.

Provenance

Mrs James Fleck (1742-1804), Cook's sister, and thence by descent to James Cook Rimer (1848-1928) of Kelvin Grove, Newlands, Cape Town, her great-great-grandson, and thence by descent to his grandson Richard Anthony Cook Rimer (1938-1995); Sotheby's, London, 23 Nov. 2003, lot 211 (part).

Exhibited

San Diego, Maritime Museum of San Diego, Cook, Melville & Gauguin, Three Voyages to Paradise, May 2011-Jan. 2012, no.58.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

'The medal was struck in commemoration of Captain Cook by his fellow members of the Royal Society. A voluntary subscription was opened, and to such fellows as contributed 20 guineas a gold medal was appropriated. Silver medals were assigned to those who contributed a smaller sum, and to each of the other members one in bronze was given. There were 20 gold medals, a number being presented to distinguished personages.' (M.K. Beddie (ed.), Bibliography of Captain James Cook, R.N., F.R.S., Circumnavigator, Sydney, 1970, pp.502-3, 2790).

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