Sir Francis Drake (b. circa 1540; d. 1596) was a privateer and explorer who also served Queen Elizabeth I as a commander within the British Navy; he ultimately attained the rank of Vice Admiral. He is best remembered for his 16th Century sea expedition that circumnavigated the globe in the name of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland.
Drake left Portsmouth, England in 1577 in his ship the
Golden Hind, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, around South America (Strait of Magellan), then north up South America's West Coast until he reached the West Coast of North America. He anchored off Northern California near present-day San Francisco. (There appears to be reliable physical evidence that before he departed for England, he traveled north to present-day Oregon, and less reliable evidence suggesting that he went as far north as present-day Vancouver Island / British Columbia.)
After departing North America, Drake sailed across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, around Africa (Cape of Good Hope), up the West Coast of Africa and Southern Europe before returning to England. He arrived in England (Portsmouth) in September 1580.
Drake Trivia: At the time of his voyage, Drake was not yet a "Sir." After returning to England in 1580 with the riches he had collected for the Crown during his voyage, he was knighted (in 1581) by Queen Elizabeth I and was henceforth "Sir Francis Drake."The medal presented here commemorates the 400th Anniversary of Drake's voyage and his time in California. The three-inch medal was struck in Bronze (500) and 0.999 Fine Silver (25) by The Roger Williams Mint, Attleboro, Massachusetts. The design is credited to Dick and Barbara Hyde (sculptor) of MedalliCraft, located in Santa
ANA, California, in conjunction with Robert Power, the former president of the California Historical Society.
("MedalliCraft" is not a misspelled "Medalcraft" of Wisconsin - different entities.)The medal's obverse depiction of Drake is based on a 16th Century portrait - contemporary to his voyage - and the reverse depicts his ship, the
Golden Hind. the former
Pelican.The Bronze medal was issued at $19.50; the limited-edition silver at $175 each.
1979 Sir Francis Drake 400th Anniversary Medal
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see:
Commems Collection.
Source Consulted:
The Numismatist, July 1979.[/i]
Posted 05/02/2025 10:27 am
