The obverse of the Charlotte Medal 1788

The Charlotte medal, recognised as being Australia's earliest colonial art work, is believed to have been engraved by Thomas Barrett, a convict thief and forger, on board the First Fleet convict transport Charlotte whilst the ship was anchored in Botany Bay between 20 and 26 January 1788. It was commissioned by the First Fleet's Principle Surgeon John White, who was also the surgeon onboard Charlotte during the voyage. It is now held in the collections of the Australian National Maritime Museum.