The Columbia Medal of 1787.

It was the 1784 publication of Capt. James Cook's journal of his third – and final, since he was killed in 1779 in Hawaii – voyage to the northwest coast of America that popularized the region with the rest of the world. It was on the basis of this book that a group of Boston gentlemen conceived a project that was to alter forever the economics and geography of the infant United States. Of particular interest to them was Cook's recounting of having received high prices for sea otter furs in China after having obtained them on the West Coast by trading metal objects of small value.

On the basis of Cook's Journals, a group of influential men in Boston laid plans in 1787 for an economic enterprise that promised rich returns. Leader of the group was Joseph Barrell, a distinguished merchant whose wealth, influence and knowledge of world affairs positioned him near the top of Boston society. Associated with him was Charles Bullfinch, recently returned from special studies in Europe. The two hammered out the details of the expedition, bringing in as investing partners a prosperous merchant, Samuel Brown, Salem shipmaster John Darby, Capt. Crowell Hatch of Cambridge and John Martin Pintard of the New York house of Lewis, Pintard & Co. Among them, they raised $50,000 divided into 14 shares.

For the expedition, two ships were bought: the Columbia , 83 feet long displacing 212 tons, 12 guns, with Capt. John Kendrick, a former privateersman, selected as master. Her consort was the sloop, Washington , (later known as the Lady Washington) 90 tons, Robert Gray, master. Of the two, Gray, a former captain in the Continental Navy, was the superior seaman. “Sea Letters” were secured for the expedition from both the federal and state governments.

Map of the west coast of North America as it was known circa 1800. Note that the Rocky Mountains were termed the “Stony Mountains” and thought to consist of a single chain. Note also that the Fraser River was assumed to join the Columbia. The scale is somewhat off, the outlet – on the southern border of the present State of Washington – shown much closer to “Quadra & Vancouver's Island” than it really is. (From “The American Gazetteer, 1804)

It was for the departure of this expedition that the medal was struck. Apparently, copper examples were sent along for presentation purposes to any natives encountered (about 12 known) and silver (2 known) were retained by the shareholders. There may have been a single gold example struck for Barrell but, if so, it is unknown today. The obverse shows the Columbia and Washington under sail with the legend COLUMBIA AND WASHINGTON around above, COMMANDED BY J. KENDRICK around below. The reverse border around reads: FITTED AT BOSTON N. AMERICA FOR THE PACIFIC OCEAN and in the center: BY J. BARRELL S. BROWN, C. BULFINCH, J. DARBY, C. HATCH, J.M. PINTARD. 1787. Size: 1 9/16”.

The Cook voyages were purely for the purposes of exploration and the gathering of information but the Columbia/Washington expedition was entirely for economic gain, in the grand tradition of the “Yankee pedlar”. They set sail from Boston on 30 September, 1787, loaded – according to Cook's information – with copper, iron, metal tools and blue cloth as main trade goods but with a certain amount of the usual trade “gewgaws” as well. Rounding South America at Cape Horn they were separated by bad weather but rejoined at Nootka on western Vancouver Island as agreed. It's interesting to note that the

Columbia carried two unusual passengers: an astronomer as well as second mate Robert Haswell, a fair artist. The trade with the Indians was not as spectacular as hoped but eventually, the hold of the Columbia was reasonably filled with furs. At this point, Kendrick and Gray exchanged commands, Kendrick bringing the Washington back to Boston via the Horn while Gray continued on to China with the Columbia's cargo of furs. There a second disappointment awaited. The Chinese market had a semi-glut of otter furs

since the Russians were quick to read Cook's writings as well and were exploiting this market for all they were worth. Still, Gray was able to a decent – if not spectacular – trade for silk, tea and Chinese porcelain. Whether they invented it or not, captains at this time saved a lot of stowage room by packing the delicate porcelain in the tea chests, the loose tea acting as a packing material to prevent breakage.

The Columbia arrived in Boston from the east on 10 August, 1790, having become the first ship flying the Stars and Stripes to circumnavigate the globe.

Despite the less than fat expected profits, both the Columbia and Washington immediately set sail again, leaving Boston harbour on 28 Sept. 1790. This time the backers were only Barrell, Brown and Hatch. Gray now commanded the larger ship, Kendrick the sloop. It was during this second voyage, on 11 May, 1792, that she put into and explored a “sound” that turned out to be the mouth of a major river which Capt. Robert Gray named after the ship, the “Columbia”. He further took possession for the United States by raising the flag and burying a number of coins and medals under a pine tree. It was on the basis of this event that gave the U.S. a claim – extremely tenuous for some decades – to the present northwestern United States.

This would have been the main benefit of the voyage. Like before, Gray took the Columbia home by way of the Cape of Good Hope but the profits for the voyage were dashed when 60% of the Chinese tea was spoiled en route. And, by now, the ships of several nations were turning up in Northwest waters. In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie, fur trader for the North West Company, would even reach the Pacific overland.

Wayne Jacobs is numismatic expert. He is the award winning author of numerous articles. He is the secretary and editor of the "Mid-Island Coin Club Numismatic Journal"of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island , British Columbia. The MICC journal are hosted here: MICC webpages Copyright 2006 Wayne Jacobs. This article may be reprinted freely for non commercial purpose only if the resource box is left intact, linking back to us.