Medal - Bicentennial of the First Fleeters

Reverse

Raised crest of Portsmouth in centre, with motto 'HEAVEN'S LIGHT OUR GUIDE', surrounded by legend detailing the First Fleet's journey to Australia. Bordered by chain looping into two manacles below the crest, and below this is the designer's initials 'IHS'.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
THE FIRST FLEET SAILED FROM PORTSMOUTH ON MAY 13th 1787
AND ARRIVED AT SYDNEY COVE AUSTRALIA JAN 26th 1788
HEAVEN'S LIGHT OUR GUIDE
IHS

Designer: Ian H. Stewart

Edge

Plain edge with slightly raised, thick rim on obverse and reverse. Each medal is individually numbered, for example '0403'.

Comment

The First Fleet set sail from Portsmouth in 1787, arriving in Australia in 1788. There were eleven vessels in all, led by the flagship HMS Sirius (represented on the medal) and aimed to find a convict settlement. This medal was commissioned by the City of Portsmouth to mark the bicentenary in 1987, and four versions were struck: a gold one given to Queen Elizabeth II, a few unnumbered silver medals for prominent people involved in the celebration, 1,350 numbered silver medals (of which this medal is an example) and a bronze version not limited. They were presented in dark blue boxes with the crossed flags of the United Kingdom and Australia above '1787~1987' inside the box.

The edge of the medal also bears hallmarks: 'BM', an anchor, a passant lion and the letter 'N'. 'BM' stands for Birmingham Mint, the anchor means the town of Birmingham, the passant lion identifies it as .925 sterling silver and the 'N' represents the year of issue, 1987, for the Birmingham Mint.

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1987	1350	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for Medal - Bicentennial of the First Fleeters 1787-1987 1987 item.