1720 Louisbourg Founded Medal. Betts-144. Copper, 41.2 mm. MS-63 BN (PCGS). 593.5 grains. A classic in the Betts series, marking the successful completion of the oceanside fortress that was to guarantee French dominion over the interior of Canada infinitely. Fortress Louisbourg, built at the mouth of the St. Lawrence on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, fell to New Englanders in 1745, was returned to France by treaty, and then captured once and for all in 1758, leading to the conquest of Canada. This piece shows crisply defined devices, brought up with at least two strikes, over finely bronzed lustrous surfaces. The fields show light reflectivity and attractive gold and violet undertones. Only minor handling is seen. The rims show some breaks and filing, as struck, and a glass finds some peripheral rust or spalling as well. This is probably of an earlier generation than either of Fords (lots 834 and 835); both of those, like the one in our February 2014 Americana sale, were struck in a more yellow bronze with a less lustrous surface. PCGS# 619392. <strong>To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click<a href="https://stacksbowers.com/sydney-f-martin-collection/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong> From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merenas) Logan and Steinberg Collections sale, November 2002, lot 5686; our (Bowers and Merenas) Baltimore Auction of June 2009, lot 3; our sale of March 2012, lot 287.
