1777 B. Franklin Américain Portrait Medallion. Fur Cap without Spectacles. By Jean-Baptiste Nini. Margolis-17, Baiardi-Sibille 94, Greenslet GM-15, Storelli-LXI, Villers-43#var. Terracotta.113.6 mm, approximately 8.2 mm at the edge. 2794.1 grains. Obverse with incuse signature and date NINI / F 1777 on truncation, left of coat of arms. Secondary date 1777 below, in relief. B FRANKLIN AMERICAIN around, separated by four rosettes and a single stop, with raised plain border. Made with a suspension hole from the top edge through to the back, as typical. Oblique edges finished in a prominent bevel around the reverse rim. A piece of wire threaded through the suspension hole.<p>Pleasing light orange terracotta of uniform color. A couple of trivial edge and border flakes and slightly larger chip from the obverse border near 6 oclock. A hairline crack is also noted passing from the edge, by the L of FRANKLIN, to his nose. This does not seem threatening and could well be a flaw from the firing rather than damage as there is no evidence of impact in this area. An old pencil presentation inscription on the back reads: "Presented from his valued friend Abby Shoemaker to Mm. E. Ellison, 1847 / Estimated as some 40 years old." As this is an original from Ninis shop, circa 1777, an estimate of 70 years would have been precisely accurate at the time.
