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An extraordinary medal from Captain Cook’s Second Voyage to New Zealand will be exhibited at the upcoming 4th International Auckland Numismatic Expo on 6-7 March 2027, as part of a special display commemorating the 60th anniversary of the New Zealand Decimal Currency/Dollar.
In a rare opportunity for collectors and institutions, the medal will then go under the hammer at the event’s Official Auction as a fundraiser lot.
Its History
The 1772–73 Resolution Medal (Lot 1), made by Matthew Boulton, was carried aboard HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure, the two ships depicted on the medal, which sailed on James Cook's Second Voyage to New Zealand.
This was the first medal produced by Boulton and paid for by the Royal Navy’s Admiralty. He would later go on to establish the Soho Mint, which produced the famous Cartwheel Penny series—official British legal tender currency in the 19th century that was also used in New Zealand.
In 1880, Spink & Son of London, renown for producing medals alongside its numismatic business, acquired the Soho Mint. In 1897, Spink issued a series of medals celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, including a dedicated New Zealand series.
In 2024, Aventine Coins & Bullion became Spink’s official numismatic agent in New Zealand, continuing the historic connection between Spink and New Zealand for over a century.
Taonga in New Zealand and a World Rarity
These medals were distributed in New Zealand during early encounters with Māori communities, likely as diplomatic gifts, and later circulating as objects of appreciation and curiosity rather than for any practical use. They are among the earliest surviving European artefacts to be found in New Zealand.
Most examples recovered from the ground in New Zealand are heavily worn or corroded, and many have been pierced for use as personal ornaments.
In 2026, The Post and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira featured an example that Aventine Coins & Bullion authenticated when it was first discovered.
Resolution medals have also appeared in popular media. In Season 10 of the world-famous television series Pawn Stars, Rick Harrison examined an example initially thought to be an old coin, later identified as a Resolution & Adventure Medal and appraised at $7,500–8,500 USD.
The Medal
Specialist classification of medal is Reverse Die Type I, identified by a distinctive die crack on the reverse and the position of the anchor on HMS Resolution. These features link it to medals made specifically for distribution during the voyage.
Captain Cook's Second Voyage. New Zealand. 1772-1773 Resolution & Adventure Medal
- Obverse
- GEORGE . III . KING . OF . GR . BRITAIN . FRANCE . AND . IRELAND ETC — laureate bust of George III facing right; B·F in truncation.
- Reverse
- RESOLVTION ADVENTVRE SAILED FROM ENGLAND MARCH MDCCLXXII — stern views of HMS Resolution with vertical anchor position and HMS Adventure.
- Type
- Die Type 1, late die state.
- Condition
- The suspension loop has been removed, with traces of the former screw fitting remaining visible on the rim. A small indentation near the “A” of ADVENTVRE suggests the medal was once worn as a pendant.
- XRF Metallurgical Analysis
-
- Copper (Cu)50.34%
- Zinc (Zn)48.48%
- Lead (Pb)0.50%
- Iron (Fe)0.36%
- Molybdenum (Mo)0.14%
- Nickel (Ni)0.12%
Why $1
$1
No Reserve.
The year 2027 marks the historic 60th anniversary of New Zealand’s Decimal/Dollar Currency as well as the revival of ANE into an annual event.
To commemorate the opening of ANE 2027 and our appointment as this year’s Official Sale Host, Aventine, in collaboration with a private collector from New Zealand, will offer this exceptional Resolution Medal with bidding opening at just One Dollar against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 NZD.
Aaron Mackesy, a recognised specialist in Resolution medals and one of only 15 Crown-licensed taonga tūturu dealers, noted the exceptional rarity of such an item appearing on the New Zealand market.
This example includes a Certificate of Export issued by New Zealand’s Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
For Another Medal In Coming Home
During production, Boulton’s first reverse die (Die 1) was damaged while striking brass-alloy medals for distribution. To complete the order, Die 2—intended for gold and silver presentation pieces—was used to strike a small number of near-pure copper medals, a softer metal that reduced the risk of damage to the die intended for presentation pieces.
At the time of publication, only four other bronzed copper examples were recorded in commerce, with just seven auction appearances over more than 40 years. They have been described as rarer than even the silver presentation medals (SBG, Spring 2025 Showcase, 1184).
Proceeds from this deaccession sale will help fund the ongoing acquisition of the rarest distributed type of the Resolution & Adventure Medal, to be made available for public display, research, and study in New Zealand, scheduled for exhibition by ANE 2028.
Auction Details
Lot 1: 1772 Resolution & Adventure Medal
Opening Bid: NZ$1.00
Estimate: NZ$20,000
Auction Date: 6 March 2027
Time: 7:00 PM NZDT
Aventine Numismatics
