Captain James Cook, explorer, navigator, and cartographer. 1728-1779. AR Medal (44mm, 39.52 g, 12h). Memorial to Captain Cook. By L. Pingo. Struck 1784. PCGS MS 62.

CNG Feature Auction 127
Lot: 945.
Closing Date: Sep 18 2024 11:00 ET

The Gerald F. Borrmann Collection of Hawaiian Numismatics, Silver

Estimate: $ 1 500

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Captain James Cook, explorer, navigator, and cartographer. 1728-1779. AR Medal (44mm, 39.52 g, 12h). Memorial to Captain Cook. By L. Pingo. Struck 1784. IAC · COOK OCEANI INVESTIGATOR ACERRIMVS (the most intrepid detective of the seas), bust left; in two lines below, REG · SOC · LOND ·/SOCIO SVO / NIL INTENTATVM NOSTRI LIQVERE (our men have left nothing unattempted), Fortune standing left, leaning upon column to right, cradling spear in left arm, and resting right hand upon rudder set on globe to left; in three lines in exergue, AVSPICIIS/GEORGII/III. Eimer, Pingo 64; Betts 553; BHM 258; Eimer 780. Toned. In PCGS encapsulation 49695744, graded MS 62.

From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection.

In 1776, Captain James Cook was dispatched to the south Pacific. Sailing with two ships, the Resolution and the Discovery, Cook first called at Tahiti to return a native who had traveled to Europe with a previous expedition. The ships then sailed northeast, diagonally across the Pacific towards North America, in hopes of finding the fabled Northwest Passage. This course led them to be the first Europeans to land on the Hawaiian Islands, dubbed by them the Sandwich Islands.

After spending the warmer months exploring the northwest coast of North America, Cook returned to Hawaii for the winter. The British were initially met with a warm reception as they circled the archipelago in search of an appropriate anchorage, as their arrival coincided with the important Makahiki harvest festival. The British ships settled and remained at Kealakeukua Bay for a month before again setting sail, only for the foremast of the Resolution to break, forcing an unexpected return to Hawaii. This time, Cook faced a colder, more hostile populace. While his crew repaired the mast, a group of native Hawaiians stole a small landing boat. While this was not an uncommon problem for British ships in Polynesia, Cook responded by taking hostages to hold as collateral until the return of the vessel. The British tried to lure King Kalaniʻōpuʻu back to the ships, but the Hawaiians realized it was a trap and turned on the British party, pursuing them to the beach. As the captain attempted to launch the landing boats, he was struck on the head and fell facing down in the surf, where he was then stabbed to death.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 127 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 17-18 September 2024. This lot is in Session Three, which will begin 18 September at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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