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

Auction # 140 | View Auction Schedule and Details

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 #4111. "1781" (1782) Libertas Americana Medal. Silver. 47.8 mm. 773.2 grains. By Augustin Dupre. Betts-615. Choice Extremely Fine.

Classic Libertas Americana Medal in Silver

Ranked #1 in The 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens

Description:

Obv: Liberty head left with flowing hair, Liberty cap or pileus on pole behind, LIBERTAS AMERICANA. Double exergue line above date 4 JUIL. 1776. Rev: France as Minerva defends infant Hercules (America) strangling snakes in his cradle from cowardly British lioness, NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS, "the Child is not Brave without Divine Aid." The serpents represent the defeated British armies of Burgoyne and Cornwallis at Saratoga and Yorktown respectively, battles whose dates appear in exergue. This historic medal was a project of Benjamin Franklin, American envoy to the Court of French King Louis XVI, who made astute use of the pieces to publicize the achievements of the United States in the Revolutionary War, distributing Silver medals to French and Dutch dignitaries, Grand Master Rohan of the Knights of Malta and even prominent Englishmen, including some in the government of George III. There has been limitless speculation as to the number of Libertas Americana Medals struck by the Paris Mint, though all agree that only two existed in Gold, presented to Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, both lost in the turmoil of the French Revolution. Silver medals were believed struck for presentation to European heads of state and leading military or civil leaders. Researcher John W. Adams in Comitia Americana and Related Medals, published in 2007, stated his opinion that no more than 60 silver and 200 copper were ever struck. The number of survivors today is substantially smaller. Adam's census accounts for only 22 silver and 37 copper. He acknowledges, however, that others may exist. The present silver example shows an as-made planchet flaw parallel to the back of the lioness. Scattered hairlines and handling suggest polishing long ago. These demerits, if that is what they might be called, are remarkably trivial and this handsome medal must certainly rank high among the survivors, whatever their number may actually be.

Ranked #1 in the book The 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens.

From Numismatica Genevensis SA's Sale 4, December 2006, lot 1615; and our (Stack's) Philadelphia Americana Sale of September 2009, lot 6102.