(1784) Silver Medal Betts-553, James Cook

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,280 MS63 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-553 in silver commemorates Captain James Cook, the great British navigator and explorer whose voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean transformed European knowledge of the world. Cook's three voyages (1768-1771, 1772-1775, 1776-1779) mapped the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and countless Pacific islands, crossing into American numismatic territory through his exploration of the Pacific Northwest coast and his death in Hawaii in 1779. The Betts catalog includes Cook medals because his Pacific explorations connected to the broader story of European engagement with the Americas and the Pacific. This silver medal dated 1784, produced after Cook's death, commemorates his achievements with the premium precious-metal treatment appropriate for one of history's greatest explorers. Silver Cook medals are collected across multiple numismatic fields -- Betts medals, British historical medals, Pacific exploration, and maritime history.

Rarity Notes

Silver Captain Cook memorial medal. Cross-over appeal across multiple collecting fields. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-553; PCGS #606299