Museum Objects Gallery

Liroconite, Wheal Gorland, St Day, Gwennap, Cornwall, England

A large, rare, liroconite crystal on strashimirite found in 1808. At 2.5cm, the specimen is the largest known crystal from any locality worldwide. Collector Philip Rashleigh wrote in his mineral catalogue: '1114 A crystal of copper ore in a double four sided pyramid of a transparent blue colour, the largest edge of the crystal 9/10th of an inch, the largest yet seen perfect. Wheal Gorland, r r r'. Type locality specimen. Rashleigh Collection

© RIC, photographer Mike Searle

Gold, Carnon Stream Works, Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England

Gold is a native element and precious metal which has been prized by mankind for thousands of years for its beauty, malleability and resistance to corrosion. This gold nugget is the largest known to have been found in Cornwall and weighs 1 oz t, 18 dwt. 6 grs. It was found in January 1808 in the Carnon Valley tin-stream works and bought by collector Philip Rashleigh in March of the same year. Rashleigh wrote in his Manuscript (112 Au): 'Native Gold found in Carnon Stream work in Cornwall weighs - 1 oz. 18 pw. 6 gr. Troy this piece has had all the extra matter picked out except a mite in one place the marks of many others remain. The smoothness of the piece shews the great time it has been washed by the water where it was exposed and the hollow parts more rough gives a proof of its not being manufactured'. In the ownership of Mr Wills, a silversmith from Truro, the find was reported in the Royal Cornwall Gazette on 6th February 1808 'this is unquestionably the largest and most beautiful specimen ever found in Cornwall, or probably in any other country'. The paper reported in March 1808 that Rashleigh purchased the specimen from Mr Wills. Mineral analysis undertaken in 2018 indicates that the gold content in the nugget is in the high 90s while other gold nuggets from the Carnon Stream Works, which were analysed, are around the 70s. As a result, it has been suggested that this gold nugget may have been refined and worked into a forgery by the silversmith who sold it to Rashleigh. Rashleigh Collection

© RIC, photographer A.G. Tindle

British War Medal, First World War 1914-1918

This medal was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel F. Call. It is one of 17 campaign medals awarded to members of the Call family, now in the museum collection. The medals date from the Peninsular War (1807-1814) to the Great War (1914-1918). The Call family served with the Royal Irish Regiment, which until 1881 was known as the 18th Regiment of Foot. It was also known as the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot. The regiment was disbanded in 1922. The British War medal was a campaign medal of the United Kingdom awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War. Designed by W. McMillan, this silver medal depicts the head of King George V with the inscription 'GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:' (George 5th, King of all the Britons and Emperor of India). The reverse depicts a naked horseman, armed with a short sword and trampling on the eagle shield of the Central Powers. A skull and crossbones, representing death, are by the shield and the rising sun of Victory is positioned above the horse's head. The dates '1914' and '1918' are positioned to the left and right. The ribbon is coloured with a broad orange vertical stripe down the centre, bordered with white, black and blue stripes. TRURI : 1931.40.56

© RIC, photographer Mike Searle