1776 (Circa 1876) Diplomatic Medal. Bronzed Copper. 68 mm. By Augustin Dupre, copied by Charles E. Barber. Julian CM-15. MS-65 BN (NGC).；Originally struck by the Paris Mint in the 1790s, the U.S. Mint prepared copy dies from lead proofs of the original French medals and made examples available for public sale beginning in 1876. Regarded by many as one of the most artistic of the U.S. Mints commemorative series, this example possesses a very pleasing rich brown semi-reflective mahogany patina applied evenly on both sides. As you would expect on a medal at the Gem level of preservation, the rims and surfaces are essentially problem free. The only distractions of note are a small depression in the obverse exergue which appears to have been on the medal before finishing, and an impression that resembles denticles visible under the eagles wing in the right reverse field. According to Mint production records provided by Julian, only 65 copper examples were struck. Of that total, 22 were likely produced during the early years when this finish was used by the Mint; the remaining 43 medals were made between 1890 and when the mintage tables end in the 1903/1904 fiscal year, by which time Mint medals were being produced in different finishes.；
