Maritime Museum secures rare convict medal

The National Maritime Museum has acquired a new colonial treasure. The 7.4 cm silver Charlotte medal dates back to the First Fleet. It was engraved by convict Thomas Barrett on the transport ship Charlotte to mark the end of their voyage in January 1788.

It’s believed Barrett produced the medal while Charlotte and the fleet’s other ships were anchored in Botany Bay awaiting Governor Phillip’s decision to dock at Port Jackson.

On one side of the medal, Barrett engraved a fully-rigged ship secured to a buoy with the sun near the horizon on the lower left and a crescent moon and stars on the upper right.

Barrett engraved the medal for the First Fleet’s Principal Surgeon John White who travelled with him aboard the Charlotte. It is believed he used a surgeon’s silver ‘kidney dish’ to create it.

The director of the Australian National Maritime Museum Mary-Louise Williams hailed the acquisition an important one for all Australians.

‘This one small object is a direct link with that pivotal event in Australia’s history ‘ the arrival of the First Fleet at Botany Bay and the subsequent European occupation of the continent,’ she said.

‘And the piece has further significance ‘ Barrett’s engraving has been widely acclaimed as the first known Australian colonial work of art.’

The museum paid $750,000 for the medal at a Noble Numismatics auction in Melbourne. It will go on display at the museum within the month.