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Great Britain: Centenary of the London Missionary Society

Great Britain: Centenary of the London Missionary SocietyGreat Britain: Centenary of the London Missionary Society
Form: Circular. Holed at 12 o’clock for a ring.
By: ?
Date: 1895
Ref:  AM2: 43; Eimer: 1808; Laidlaw: 0539;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
44.9 mmBronzed White Metal25.0gm$25

Edge: Plain.

Obverse: Port broadside view of a three-masted ship in full sail. Across below: "THE SHIP DUFF / SAILED FOR SOUTH SEAS / 1796 (between ornaments)”. Legend above: “THE CENTENARY OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY" and below between stops: "1795-1895".

Reverse: Quartered into four views, from the top left clockwise. (1) Cannibals dancing around four people in a pot over a fire. (2) Crowd of natives at a hanging. (3) Slave wagon with waiting victims and a native crowd by huts. (4) Two people prostrating themselves before an idol. Legend on a raised band: "NEW GUINEA . WEST INDIES . CHINA . SOUTH SEAS . AFRICA . INDIA . MADAGASCAR . MONGOLIA". Star at the foot.

Notes: The medal was also issued in silver and bronze.

The London Missionary Society was formed in England in 1795 with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa. James Wilson (1760–1814), captain of the ship Duff, landed the first British missionaries on Tahiti in 1797.