1781 (1783) Libertas Americana Medal. Original. Paris Mint. By Augustin Dupre. Betts-615, Adams-Bentley 15. Silver. Thick Planchet. MS-61 (PCGS).47.5 mm. 1081.0 grains. A handsome and particularly desirable example of a classic early American medal, fully Mint State, profoundly original, and intriguing due to the unusually thick planchet on which it is struck. This specimen is a newcomer to the modern numismatic market, acquired by our consignor in 1981 shortly after it had been discovered on a farm in the Amish community. It has been cherished privately since and this represents its first known public offering. <p>Deep steel-olive surfaces reveal subtle antique gold undertones when viewed with direct lighting, as well as warmer charcoal-russet peripheral accents. Noticeably reflective in the fields on both sides, with abundant fine detail throughout the devices. A number of small to moderate size handling marks are scattered about to explain the MS-61 grade from PCGS. These are most numerous in the expansive field areas, perhaps as expected, but only a few minor nicks on Libertys portrait and in the upper left obverse field are singularly conspicuous during in-hand viewing. The rims are clean, and the eye appeal is strong at the assigned grade level.<p>As stated above, this specimen is struck on an unusually thick planchet for a silver Libertas Americana medal. While many specimens that we have offered over the years were consigned to us after certification and with no mention of the weight on the insert, we have weighed enough examples to confirm the standard range suggested by the five specimens listed in the 2007 reference <em>Comitia America and Related Medals </em>by John W. Adams and Anne E. Bentley. Those five examples weigh from a low of 785.51 grains to a high of 854.95 grains. The two PCGS MS-62 specimens that sold in our Summer 2022 and Spring 2024 auctions were nearly identical in weight at 839.2 grains and 837.2 grains, respectively, and at the higher end of the range established by the medals in the Adams-Bentley roster. The glorious example in PCGS/CAC/CMQ MS-64+ that recently sold in our August 2024 Global Showcase Auction was lighter at 794.77 grains, but still within this established range. One of the lowest weights known to us is the 719.7 grains recorded for the Archangel Collection specimen in PCGS MS-62 from our October 2018 Baltimore Auction. At 1081.0 grains the offered specimen is on the other end of the spectrum - heavier than any other silver impression from these dies for which we have a known weight. The reason for this unusually thick planchet can only be guessed at. Perhaps it was prepared intentionally, perhaps it is simply a rogue. In either case it is not among the Unusual Pieces discussed by Adams and Bentley, although it certainly deserves mention in any discussion of silver Libertas Americana medals that deviate in some way from the norm. One thing is certain - we can be thankful for this thick planchet since it provided plenty of metal to fill the deepest recesses of the dies, thereby helping to explain the full, crisp detail seen for even the most intricate design elements.<p>No other medal in the canon of American numismatics is invested with so much history and importance as the Libertas Americana medal. It followed the declaration of American independence, whose date is placed in the obverse legend, and the support of France in the American cause. The two greatest American victories, that of Gates at Saratoga and Washington at Yorktown, are referenced with dates in the reverse exergue. The British armies defeated on those dates, Burgoynes force at Saratoga and that of Cornwallis at Yorktown, are incorporated into the reverse allegory as the snakes strangled by Hercules in his crib. In that allegory, France is depicted as Minerva, defending the infant from the lioness, Great Britain, whose tail curls between her hind legs. The obverse design influenced many of the depictions of Liberty that would come from the first United States Mint, directly inspiring the Liberty Cap design found on copper half cents and cents in the 1790s. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of later American medals and tokens used the design, from privately issued business cards to the United States Mints 1945 Assay Commission medal. Its image was featured on contemporary engravings and textiles, and examples could be found in the 18th century in the collections of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and more. No founding father is as closely associated with the medal, of course, as Benjamin Franklin. The medal was his brainchild and pet project, and every specimen that survives traces its provenance to him.<p>Silver examples are perhaps 10 times rarer than bronze examples. Having been distributed non-numismatically, most have been mishandled, and a few are significantly impaired. The current record for a silver Libertas Americana medal sold at auction is $336,000, achieved for the aforementioned PCGS/CAC/CMQ MS-64+ specimen in our August 2024 sale. Our last three offerings of PCGS MS-62 silver examples have sold within a fairly tight range: the Martin piece brought $174,000 in August 2022, the Cardinal specimen brought $168,000 in November 2022 and, most recently, the Margolis specimen realized $180,000 in our Spring 2024 Auction. The Archangel example, also graded MS-62 by PCGS, brought $156,000 in our sale of October 2018. The present piece in PCGS MS-61 is similar in overall quality and visual appeal to that quartet, but of special note due to the thick planchet. We anticipate keen interest in this offering from advanced collectors in the Comitia Americana discipline.<p>From the Bernardi Collection. Acquired by our consignor in 1981 shortly after discovery on a farm in the Amish community. This is its first known public offering.
