E2316-1

Medal commemorating Drake's voyage, 1577-1580; obverse Long Caption: On a silver plate, on one side the eastern hemisphere and on the other the western, showing the track of Drake's voyage. Nine examples of this commemorative medallion are known. One of the nine, formerly in the collection of the Earl of Caledon, has a cartouche identifying the maker as Michael Mercator, grandson of the Dutch cartographer, Gerard Mercator the elder. It indicates that the medallion was sold in London in 1589. There is some evidence that they were cast from an engraved original. Drake's route is indicated by a dotted line with tiny ships. The date of his landing on the Californian coast is given incorrectly as 1580 instead of 1579. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: MEC0005 Artist: Michael Mercator Date: circa 1589 Medium: silver Size: 68 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.