The August 2012 Philadelphia ANA World's Fair of Money Auction

Pre-Bidding Ends: 8/7/2012 10:00:00 AM PST
Live Floor and Internet Bidding Begins: 8/7/2012 11:00:00 AM PST

Lot #4081. 1779 John Paul Jones Medal. Silver. 56.3 mm. 108.7 grams. Betts-568, Julian NA-1. Original Dies. Plain Edge. Mint State.

Illustrious Silver Original John Paul Jones Medal

 One of a Handful Known Ex: Ford
Description: A lovely example of one of Dupre's masterworks in its most noble collectable form. Many decades' worth of elegant pale blue toning has gathered in the medium gray obverse fields, while the reverse is lighter silver gray with rose, gold and hints of blue. Minor rim bruise on the obverse at 4 o'clock. The reverse die shows some rim crumbling 10 o'clock to 1 o'clock.

Silver original Comitia Americana medals are essentially the top of the pyramid of early American medals. For some issues like Howard at Cowpens or DeFleury at Stony Point, silver was the most noble form ever struck and was the format the awardee himself received. Jones had a gold medal struck, now lost. In silver, perhaps just a half dozen survive in private hands. John Ford owned just one, this example, earlier the property of Wayte Raymond. As an inclusion in an advanced set of Comitia Americana medals, or as the triumphant beginning of the long-lived Naval medal series, this stands as an important property and a very unusual opportunity. This sole Revolutionary War naval medal is further distinguished by being the only naval medal struck by the authority of the Continental Congress.

Est. $50,000-$75,000

From the Dorchester Heights Collection. Earlier ex: Wayte Raymond estate; and from our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part V, October 2004, lot 163.


- Indicates you are the winning bidder for a specific lot.
- Indicates you are the highest bidder for a specific lot.
- Indicates you have been outbid on a specific lot.
*Price includes BP if auction is closed
^Reserve not met