Material: Nickel-plated brass
Diameter: 20 mm
Description: This vintage numismatic artifact displays the true obverse face of the brass-plated steel commemorative medalet token issued by Captain Morgan Rum. The central engraving details a modern mid-twentieth-century motor lifeboat crashing through structured, stylized ocean waves. Arching along the upper rim are the bold initials "R·N·L·I" flanked by the definitive milestone dates "1824" on the left and "1974" on the right. The lower border of the coin features the corporate sponsor name "CAPTAIN MORGAN" embossed in a clean, high-relief serif font. The face shows a distinct raised outer rim and exhibits visible surface spotting, pinpoint rust pitting, and natural oxidation consistent with its vintage steel-core composition.
Reverse: The reverse face features a beautifully sculpted, right-facing portrait bust of the nineteenth-century coastal rescue heroine Grace Darling. Her name is boldly embossed along the upper rim in a stylized serif font, while her lifetime dates "1815" and "1842" flank the lower border of her dress line. The piece features a raised protective outer rim with fine denticle accents and exhibits a natural aged patina across its metallic field.
Circa: 1974
Notes:
This token represents a unique advertising partnership where the Captain Morgan rum brand sponsored the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the RNLI, which was originally founded back in 1824. The alternate side of the piece prominently features a classic pulling-style lifeboat tossing in heavy waves alongside the date parameters of 1824 to 1974. The historical figure chosen for the reverse, Grace Darling, achieved immense national fame in September 1838 when she and her lighthouse keeper father rowed a tiny coble boat through a fierce storm to rescue nine survivors from the shipwrecked luxury paddle steamer Forfarshire off the Farne Islands.