Medal from Captain Cook's voyage sells for £6,500

The medal commemorating Captain Cook's voyage is one of just 2,000 made

A medal marking Captain James Cook's second voyage of discovery in 1772 has sold for £6,500 at auction.

Captain Cook was sent as far south as possible to determine if there was any great southern landmass and the medals were handed out to people they met on the way.

A total of 2,000 were struck and distributed to people in more than 30 locations including Tahiti, Easter Island and New Zealand.

Gareth Wasp, of RWB Auctions in Royal Wootton Bassett, said: “It’s a fantastic item full of history.”

The medal was designed to prove Captain Cook's voyage had been the first to reach unexplored lands

Mr Wasp said the auction house had received interest from collectors in South America, the US and Australia, particularly those interested in naval history and exploration.

The medal fetched more than double the guide price of £3,000 in the sale on Wednesday.

"We are not sure how many are still in existence," said Mr Wasp.

"This one we have would have had an original hanging loop which is no longer there. It is a pretty rare medal."

The medal was commissioned by famous botanist Sir Joseph Banks and paid for by the Admiralty.

They were designed to prove to future explorers that Captain Cook had been the first to reach unexplored lands and also to introduce native inhabitants to the then British monarch - King George III - whose portrait appears on the other side.

The medal has the two ships commissioned for the voyage - HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure - and the inscription reads 'Sailed from England March · MDCCLXXII' (1772).

Sir Joseph had intended to join Captain Cook's second voyage but withdrew at the last minute, delaying departure and meaning that the date on the medals was incorrect.

It is unknown who the medal was originally given to, but it was sold by a local collector who wished to remain anonymous.