Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

19th Century, Voyage of HMS Challenger, 1895, a uniface copper-washed cast of the obverse for a medal, unsigned, Neptune crowning head of Athena, dolphins and mermaids around, 77mm (cf. DNW 40, 652). Two piercings for suspension, otherwise very fine; in a brown fitted case (£40-60)

The expeditions of HMS Challenger, in 1872-76 and 1886-95, resulted in fundamental discoveries about the world’s oceans and ocean floors that provided the basis for modern oceanography