Undated (1766) William Pitt Medal. Betts-516, Kraljevich 3-C. Silver. MS-63 (PCGS).40 mm. 398.0 grains. A gloriously appealing example of this popular medal struck amidst the afterglow of Pitts handling of the Stamp Act Crisis. Good reflectivity remains on deep golden-gray surfaces, highlighted with rich blue, violet, and mint green. Despite the most minor whisper of friction, not enough to eliminate it from the Mint State range were it a coin of this vintage, the surfaces and devices are beautifully preserved, showing just some very forgettable hairlines. A very thin die crack is present within the letters GVL on the obverse, which expands considerably in later states and causes the death of the die. The signature T. PINGO F. for Thomas Pingo designates this as a variety struck in the 1760s, not the more common variety with no signature that was coined a century later. Despite the fact that the Pitt token is the only Pitt or Stamp Act-related item in the <em>Guide Book</em>, there is a fascinating short series of medals, all listed by Betts, which mark Pitts role in handling this American crisis. Including medals such as this will allow the numismatist to build a collection with wider historical - and numismatic - perspective. Collected alongside a more common (but typically more in demand) Pitt token, this offers a better portrait and a classically American legend.From our (American Numismatic Rarities) Old Colony Sale, November 2005, lot 39; our sale of the Jim Jones Collection, March 2012 Baltimore Auction, lot 1035; our sale of the Sydney F. Martin Collection, September 2024 Collectors Choice Online Auction, lot 90009.
