178 



The history of the medal voted by the Royal Society in 

 honor of Capt. Cook, illustrates the uses and intention of a 

 medal with the utmost pertinency. In 1776, the society 

 had voted that he should receive the one annual Copley 

 medal (which Benj Franklin had been the first to receive 

 in 1753). Capt. Cook had sailed on his last voyage before 

 obtaining it. When the news of his death reached London, 

 the society farther resolved, Jan. 20, 1780. " that the serv- 

 ices of Capt. Cook, merit some public act for perpetuating 

 the memory of so valuable and so eminent a man." 



As the best means to accomplish this object, it was re- 

 solved at the meeting of the next week (Jan. 27th), " that 

 the society order a medal to be struck expressive of his de- 

 serts." This measure was not understood as a resolution 

 that a single piece of gold should be fashioned, with ap- 

 propriate devices and inscriptions, of which the society 

 should be the sole possessor, or which should be delivered 

 to the family of the person whose memory was to be per- 

 petuated. The manner of carrying it into effect, shows 

 what was their understanding of the purport of a medal. 

 It was decided that each subscriber of twenty guineas, 

 should receive a medal in gold, that each subscriber of one 

 guinea should receive a copy in silver, or two in bronze, 

 and that each member of the society, indiscriminately, 

 should receive a copy in bronze. 



The dies cost j£84, and with the sum received, thirteen 

 gold, 289 silver, and 500 bronze medals were struck, making 

 802 medals, at a cost in all of about .£419 or about $2000. 

 After the lapse of four years, and after the distribution had 

 been accomplished, it was found that a surplus of money 

 still remained, and it was resolved to strike from the dies 

 five more gold medals. Of these, at this late date, it was 

 thought appropriate to present a copy to the widow of the 

 honored commander. If the delay to do so be neither deli- 

 cate or generous, it nevertheless shows that this learned 

 society had not regarded the medal as a certificate of merit 



