Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 110 4-5 Jun 2019
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Great Britain. William Pitt Medal, 1766. Eimer-713; BHM-100; Betts-516. Silver. 40 mm. By T. Pingo. George III, 1760-1820. Obverse; Detailed bust of British Prime Minister William Pitt, wearing wig and coat, facing left. GVLIELMVS PITT, artist's signature (T. PINGO) below. Reverse; Legend: THE MAN WHO HAVING SAVED THE PARENT (referring to his leadership in the Seven Years War) PLEADED WITH SUCCESS FOR HER CHILDREN (a reference to Pitt's opposition to the 1765 Stamp Act which he believed would harm the American colonies). Late die strike, flaw through GVLI of GVLIELMVS. Beautifully toned mint state, with shades of mauve and iridescent royal blue. Probably the finest extant example of this important piece of early American numismatic history. Struck to celebrate the repeal of the 1765 American Colonies Stamp Act. In original case of issue. Very Rare. NGC graded MS-63+. Estimate Value $1,500 - 1,800
*The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22nd 1765. This was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British government. Under the terms of the legislation, the colonists were forced to pay a tax on all forms of printed paper, and newspapers, ships' papers, legal documents and licences etc.
William Pitt, an English politician revered by the Americans bitterly opposed the Act. Pitt consistently argued for the good of the common man, and this earned him the nickname 'The Great Commoner.'
The colonists were offended by the Act because it was a blatant attempt by the British to raise revenue and spend the money on troops stationed near the American frontier.
Eventually, the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves, which declared that Virginians should only pay taxes voted by the House of Burgesses. Virginia's Governor Fauquier dissolved the House of Burgesses after the declaration, but the issue of taxation and representation raised by the Stamp Act strained relations with the colonies to the extent that 10 years later the US colonies rose in armed rebellion against the British. The resistance to this Act was a rehearsal for the Declaration of Independence, and led to the creation of the United States of America.
Soon afterwards, 200 merchants met in New York City and agreed to import nothing from England until the Stamp Act was repealed. As dissent spread in America, Grenville (whose British government had passed the Act) was replaced in July 1765 as Prime minister, by Lord Rockingham. In January 1766, Rockingham's ministry formally proposed repeal, and William Pitt stated in Parliament 'It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right to lay a tax on the colonies.' A resolution was introduced on 21st February 1766 to repeal the Stamp Act, and it passed by a vote of 276 to 176. King George III gave his royal assent on 18th March 1766, and by the end of July 1766, the popular Pitt had become Prime Minister. The next developments were, as they say, history.
*The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22nd 1765. This was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British government. Under the terms of the legislation, the colonists were forced to pay a tax on all forms of printed paper, and newspapers, ships' papers, legal documents and licences etc.
William Pitt, an English politician revered by the Americans bitterly opposed the Act. Pitt consistently argued for the good of the common man, and this earned him the nickname 'The Great Commoner.'
The colonists were offended by the Act because it was a blatant attempt by the British to raise revenue and spend the money on troops stationed near the American frontier.
Eventually, the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves, which declared that Virginians should only pay taxes voted by the House of Burgesses. Virginia's Governor Fauquier dissolved the House of Burgesses after the declaration, but the issue of taxation and representation raised by the Stamp Act strained relations with the colonies to the extent that 10 years later the US colonies rose in armed rebellion against the British. The resistance to this Act was a rehearsal for the Declaration of Independence, and led to the creation of the United States of America.
Soon afterwards, 200 merchants met in New York City and agreed to import nothing from England until the Stamp Act was repealed. As dissent spread in America, Grenville (whose British government had passed the Act) was replaced in July 1765 as Prime minister, by Lord Rockingham. In January 1766, Rockingham's ministry formally proposed repeal, and William Pitt stated in Parliament 'It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right to lay a tax on the colonies.' A resolution was introduced on 21st February 1766 to repeal the Stamp Act, and it passed by a vote of 276 to 176. King George III gave his royal assent on 18th March 1766, and by the end of July 1766, the popular Pitt had become Prime Minister. The next developments were, as they say, history.