Resolution and Adventure medal, George III period, 1772 by Mathew Boulton for Sir Joseph Banks brass compound struck from the first die Obverse: laureate bust of King George III, Bf (Boulton Fecit) on truncation, inscription George III King of Gr Britain France and Ireland Etc. around. Reverse: view of the frigates Hms Resolution and Hms Adventure seen from astern with names inscribed above and Sailed From England March Mdcclxxii in exergue. Minimal wear, excellent and fine relief with even patina - a superior example. d.4.4 cm The Resolution & Adventure medal was commissioned by Joseph Banks for Cook’s second voyage, on which Banks did not ultimately travel. 2000 medals were minted in a brass compound for distribution during the second voyage. The medals were given by Cook himself as gifts or for trading. Only a handful of corroded ‘field’ examples have ever been found. The majority of these finds were in New Zealand. Examples are held in the collections of Te Papa and the National Museum of Australia. A few examples have a suspension ring attached presumably for a ribbon, necklace or medallion display. For the third voyage in the Resolution & Discovery Cook requested 12 dozen pieces of ribbon indicating that there were 144 medals still remaining for distribution. Two Resolution & Adventure medals have been found on the west coast of the Americas and one on Victoria Island, Canada.