The only known Polar Medal belonging to the famous Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, may soon be leaving the UK unless a buyer comes forward. The medal was awarded to Shackleton for his three polar expeditions, and is regarded as one of his most important and most personal possessions. The medal has been valued at £1.76m, making it a costly purchase for anyone hoping to keep it in the UK. A temporary export bar has been placed on it, and the government intends to keep it in the country.
According to Andrew Hochhauser KC, Chair of the Committee that reviews the export of such objects, Sir Ernest’s Polar Medal is of “outstanding significance”. Mr Hochhauser stated that the medal should go to a UK public institution where the public can relive Shackleton’s remarkable achievements and be inspired by future leaders. Investigations by the UK authorities suggest that this is the only Polar Medal awarded to Shackleton still remaining in the UK.
The Polar Medal is awarded to individuals who demonstrate outstanding service in polar research. Sir Ernest received the medal after directing three separate expeditions to the Antarctic, two of which he led. His 1907 Nimrod expedition was his third attempt to become the first person to reach the South Pole, but although this goal was not met, the expedition set new records by getting within 100 miles of the South Pole. The government has placed an export bar on the medal as the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest believe that its departure from the UK would be a great loss to the country due to its historical importance.
The decision on the export licence application for Sir Ernest’s medal has been deferred until May 1. The medal was previously sold by Sir Ernest’s family at a public auction in 2019, where a range of other items linked to Shackleton were also sold to the highest bidder. These included his Chilean Order of Merit for £74,500 and four British medals for £230,500
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