Charlotte Medal: Difference between revisions
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[[File:The Charlotte Medal - 1788.jpg|thumb|200px|The Charlotte Medal]] |
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| ⚫ | The '''Charlotte Medal''' is a 74mm wide [[silver]] [[medallion]] depicting the voyage of [[Charlotte (ship)|The Charlotte]], with the [[First Fleet]], to [[Botany Bay]], [[Australia]]. Its inverse depicts a scene of the ship and its reverse is inscribed with a description of the journey. The medal is said to be the first work of |
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| ⚫ | The '''Charlotte Medal''' is a 74mm wide [[silver]] [[medallion]] depicting the voyage of [[Charlotte (ship)|The Charlotte]], with the [[First Fleet]], to [[Botany Bay]], [[Australia]]. Its inverse depicts a scene of the ship and its reverse is inscribed with a description of the journey. The medal is said to be the first work of |
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Australian [[Australian_art#Colonial_art_.281770.E2.80.931900.29|colonial art]]. |
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<ref name=NationalMuseum>{{cite web |url=http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/irish_in_australia/exhibition_overview/arriving |title=Arriving |publisher=[[National Museum of Australia]] |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> |
<ref name=NationalMuseum>{{cite web |url=http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/irish_in_australia/exhibition_overview/arriving |title=Arriving |publisher=[[National Museum of Australia]] |accessdate=17 September 2014}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:40, 17 September 2014
The Charlotte Medal is a 74mm wide silver medallion depicting the voyage of The Charlotte, with the First Fleet, to Botany Bay, Australia. Its inverse depicts a scene of the ship and its reverse is inscribed with a description of the journey. The medal is said to be the first work of Australian colonial art. [1]
Creation
During the journey The Charlotte visited Rio de Janeiro. Whilst at anchor, one of the ship's convicts, a forger by the name of Thomas Barrett was caught giving locals fake coins made from buckles, buttons and spoons. The Surgeon-general of the Fleet, John White was impressed with his skill in making these forgeries, without having the apparent means to do so. This led him to commission Barrett to make the medal, to commemorate the journey, possibly from the surgeon's silver kidney dish.[2]
Inscriptions
The inverse of the medal depicts The Charlotte, at anchor at night, in Botany Bay. The inscription reads
The Charlotte at anchor in Botany Bay Jan' th.20.1788[1]
The reverse of the medal is inscribed with a journal of the voyage. It reads
Sailed the Charlotte of London from Spit head the 13 of May 1787. Bound for Botany Bay in th Island of new holland arriv,d at Teneriff th4 of June in Lat 28 13 N Long 16 23 W depart,d it 10 D', arriv,d at rio janeiro 6 of Aug in Lat 22,54 S Long 42,38 W, depart,d it the 5 of Sep' arriv,d at the Cape of good hope the 14 Oct' in Lat 34 29 S Long 18 29 E depart,d it th13 of Nov' and made the South Cape of New Holland the 8 of Jan 4 1788 in Lat 43,32 S Long 146,56 E arrivd at Botany Bay the 20 of Jun' the Charlotte in Co in Lat 34.00 South Long 151.00 East distance from great Britan Miles 13106[1]
Owners and purchase
After White it is unknown who owned it, but at some point before 1919 it came into the possession of Princess Victoria and Prince Louis.[3]
In 2008 the Australian National Maritime Museum , with funds from the National Cultural Heritage Account, authorised through the Australian Government, won an auction for the medal with a bid of $750,000.[3]
Copper medal
A smaller copper medallion, with a diamer of 47mm, was created at the same time. The medal was made for White's personal servant, William Broughton and omits the ship scene, being inscribed simply with a abridged version of the journey.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Arriving". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ White, John (1790). "Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales with sixty-five plates of non descript animals, birds, lizards, serpents, curious cones of trees and other natural productions". University of Sydney Library. p. 44-45. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ a b c Coin Collector Blog (05 December 2012). "What is the Charlotte medal and why is it of such immense significance to Australia?". The Perth Mint Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
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