A gold medal awarded to an officer on board the Carpathia, the first ship to rescue survivors of the Titanic, is set to auction.

The most senior Carpathia officer's medal to ever auction

Survivors from the Titanic awarded several crewmembers of the Carpathia with medals to show their gratitude to their rescuers. It was the idea of a committee of first class passengers from the Titanic, including "unsinkable" Molly Brown, who would later be immortalised in film for her efforts to rescue passengers.

The gold medal awarded to Second Officer James Bisset will auction on July 28 in the UK with a £36,000 high valuation.

Its significant estimate is testament to the medal's rarity.

"Carpathia gold medals are some of the rarest pieces of Titanic memorabilia to exist today; this is only the second gold Carpathia medal to be offered in the last 25 years and is thought to be the most senior officer's medal to ever to go under the auctioneer's hammer," said the auction house.

A bronze medal awarded to a Carpathia crew member sold for $2,000 in 2011.

The item is also expected to benefit from the fervour surrounding the 100th anniversary of Titanic's sinking. We have already witnessed some superb results this year.

A letter, written on board the Titanic by the leader of the ship's band, sold for $154,974 in April, while a deck chair from the ship - one of only seven known to still exist - made $65,351.

A first class menu from the last lunch ever eaten aboard the Titanic achieved £76,000 in March.

Bisset would go on to become the commander of the Cunard Line.

Do you have Titanic memorabilia to auction? We are currently accepting consignments for our September sale.