Description (Physical description)
Cast of the obverse of the medal given by Captain Cook to Polynesians during his second and third voyages to the Pacific (1772-5 and 1776-80). The medal was struck in Birmingham.

Event Date 2/7/1993
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
A few specimens have been found on archaeological sites in New Zealand.
Event Date 2/7/1993
Author: maa

Loan (Exhibition)
Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, 02/10/2011 to 28/09/2018, Exhibition: Astronomy & Empire
Event Date 2/10/2011
Author: Rachel Hand

Context (Display)
On display in the Voyaging section of Introductory case, (case 5) Maudslay Hall, from May 2012, as 'Otaheite Medal.
Commissioned to mark Cook’s second voyage and known as the Otaheite Medal, these medals were traded and gifted to Pacific Islanders. A few examples have been excavated on archaeological sites in New Zealand. The medals have become relics associated with the cult of Cook. Casts of the originals were made to display in exhibitions commemorating his voyages'

Event Date 19/11/2012
Author: Rachel Hand

Description (Labels & Markings)
Note on rear of mount, ?original loan label, reads " Two casts of the Oteheite medal [artist] Boulton & Fothergill of B' ham [lender] University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge' . R.Hand 6/11/2007
Event Date 19/11/2012
Author: Rachel Hand

Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2017.3899 | Remedial
Event Date 21/7/2017
Author: Kirstie Williams

Loan (Exhibition)
Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, 30/4/2019 to 30/7/2019, Exhibition: Astronomy & Empire
Event Date 30/4/2019
Author: rachel hand

Loan (Exhibition)
Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, 07/05/2019 to 30/8/2019, Exhibition: Astronomy & Empire

Original display object label reads, 'James Cook had these medals (left) struck in Birmingham before his second voyage, to trade and gift to Pacific Islanders. Casts of the originals, like the ones displayed here, were then exhibited in Britain to commemorate the journey.'
Event Date 7/5/2019
Author: rachel hand