1772 Captain Cook / Resolution and Adventure Medal. Betts-552. Silver, 44 mm. MS-62 (PCGS). 701.9 grains. Plain edge. Second reverse die. An important rarity, struck by Boulton for the cognoscenti of the English cultural and scientific communities adjacent to Cooks Pacific voyages. While pieces in a brass composition called "platina" from a different reverse die were struck for distribution to indigenous people of the Pacific, these silver examples (and the very rare bronzed copper ones like the next lot) were struck as contemporary commemoratives of the voyages of exploration. <p><p>The surfaces are very lustrous and nicely reflective, with gold and violet tones overlaid on even gray fields. Some hairlines account for the grade as assigned, commonplace on these, but the visual appeal surpasses most we have encountered.<p><p>Apparently fond of these, John Ford amassed four silver Resolution and Adventure medals like this one, which is twice the number weve offered since that sale in May 2006. Two of Fords, like this one, were sourced from Baldwins in London. The most recent auction appearance of one was in our Sydney Martin Part V sale, November 2023, where a PCGS AU-50 brought $8,400. Mr. Margolis interest in the Resolution and Adventure medals came from their origin at the Soho Manufactory of Boulton and Fothergill rather than their eventual distribution on the voyages; it is telling he owned two medallic specimens rather than the pieces worn by those Cook encountered. From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier from A.H. Baldwin & Sons 1997 fixed price list of commemorative medals, lot 426; acquired from Baldwins at COINEX, London, October 1997.
