Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature US Coin Sale 1259 7-8 Sep 2017
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Colonials
(1781) MEDAL Libertas Americana Medal, Copper, MS62 Brown NGC. Betts-615, Loubat-14. At 48 mm in diameter, struck in bronzed copper, the peerless Libertas Americana medal reigns among the finest examples of medallic art. It is usually listed with Colonials in American numismatics, given its links to the earliest days of the country and the guiding influence of Benjamin Franklin in its design, and the role it played in the design and mintage of some of the earliest U.S. coinage. It was clearly the model for the Liberty Cap, Head Facing Left design of the 1793 half cent, as well as numerous other medals and tokens that followed in later years.
While two pieces were reportedly struck in gold (gifted to the King and Queen of England, according to Benjamin Franklin), the medal is only known today in silver and bronze. The silver strikings are very scarce (about 35 exist) and the bronze pieces are only slightly more available with about 100 to 125 examples known. All are in high demand. This is a delightful original bronze representative, glossy and well-struck with medium-brown patina blending into bluish-brown high points. A tiny rim chip at 8 o'clock on the obverse is of negligible significance.
HID02901242017
(1781) MEDAL Libertas Americana Medal, Copper, MS62 Brown NGC. Betts-615, Loubat-14. At 48 mm in diameter, struck in bronzed copper, the peerless Libertas Americana medal reigns among the finest examples of medallic art. It is usually listed with Colonials in American numismatics, given its links to the earliest days of the country and the guiding influence of Benjamin Franklin in its design, and the role it played in the design and mintage of some of the earliest U.S. coinage. It was clearly the model for the Liberty Cap, Head Facing Left design of the 1793 half cent, as well as numerous other medals and tokens that followed in later years.
While two pieces were reportedly struck in gold (gifted to the King and Queen of England, according to Benjamin Franklin), the medal is only known today in silver and bronze. The silver strikings are very scarce (about 35 exist) and the bronze pieces are only slightly more available with about 100 to 125 examples known. All are in high demand. This is a delightful original bronze representative, glossy and well-struck with medium-brown patina blending into bluish-brown high points. A tiny rim chip at 8 o'clock on the obverse is of negligible significance.
HID02901242017