1781 (1783) Libertas Americana Medal. Original. Paris Mint. Betts-615, Adams-Bentley 15. Bronze. AU Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS).47.7 mm. 47.9 grams. A collectible example of this most famous American medal, the one Thomas Jefferson displayed in his home and identified in his art inventory as "a medal by Dr. Franklin." Jefferson displayed his specimen, now lost, in a frame with the reverse showing, undoubtedly captivated by the classical imagery of America as baby Hercules fending off two serpents - the armies of Burgoyne and Cornwallis - as when his stepmother Juno attempted to kill him in his crib. In something of a mixed metaphor, rather than representing England as Juno, who is not instantly identifiable by an allegorical figure, the British lion stands in, here seen as a lioness with her tail between her legs. On this medal, the obverse is an ideal smooth chocolate brown, somewhat worn but lovely to behold. A few marks are seen in the fields. The reverse is a bit sharper, but shows areas of light granularity. The two-sided contrast of surfaces suggests that a former owner may have displayed this piece as Jefferson did, perhaps with the reverse exposed to humidity or set against a sometimes moist wall while the obverse remained protected. The overall appeal is excellent, with the roughness simply making this a medal a greater swath of historically-minded collectors can afford.From our (Stacks) Entlich, White Oak, Gross and St. Andre Collections sale, March 2009, lot 5043.
