James Cook: A Historical Numismatic Perspective

A talk by Peter Lane (Honorary Numismatist AGSA).

Captain Cook is just one chapter of Australia’s long history, erroneously described as the discoverer and founder of Australia. In this talk, Peter will present a history of the exploration of Australia and Pacific through numismatics pre-Cook, contemporaneous to Cook and post-Cook, the latter including an examination of the ramifications of Cook’s voyages.

Through items on display in the exhibition Captain Cook & the Art of Memorabilia, Peter will discuss numismatic aspects of pre-Cook mapping of the Pacific and Australia, Cook’s charting of the Pacific on his three voyages, the response in England to Cook’s death, post-Cook exploration of the Pacific (including French explorer, Baudin), and modern commemoratives. Peter will also discuss the significance of numismatics in Australia after Cook, with convict love tokens, medals of the British army in Australia and Governor Brisbane’s pass.

About the speaker:

Peter Lane has been a collector for over 40 years and specialises in numismatic aspects of cartography, exploration, fauna and convicts, relating to Australia pre-1868. He is the Honorary Numismatist at the Art Gallery of South Australia, past president of the Numismatic Association of Australia, a board member of the Australiana Society and a regular contributor to their Australiana publication, a regular contributor to the Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia, and was a contributing author of Convict Love Tokens.

Ticket include complimentary glass of wine on arrival.

Numbers limited. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Ticket for event only.

Limited parking available onsite.

First image: attributed to Michael Mercator (The Netherlands c.1566/70–1600), Drake medal (copy), designed c.1580?, minted 1977, London, silver, 6.8cm diameter. On loan from a private collection

Second image: Boulton & Fothergill (Britain 1762–1782), manufacturer, Platina Resolution & Adventure medal (of William Lanyon), 1772, Birmingham, platina, 4.3cm diameter. On loan from a private collection