1813 (1869-1880s) Master Commandant Olive Hazard Perry / Battle of Lake Erie Naval Medal. Bronze. 65 mm. By Moritz Fürst. Julian NA-17. MS-65 BN (NGC).The warm, virtually unblemished, semi-reflective mahogany surfaces provide outstanding visual appeal. Medals of this type commemorate the Battle of Lake Erie and honor the American victor in that engagement, Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry. Fought on September 10, 1813, on Lake Erie off the coast of Ohio, the battle saw a U.S. fleet of nine vessels defeat a British force of six ships under Commander Robert Heriot Barclay. The American victory proved to be one of the largest naval battles of the War of 1812 and secured U.S. control of Lake Erie, facilitated the American recapture of Detroit, and paved the way for the United States victory at the Battle of the Thames. Perrys famous quote after the Battle of Lake Erie, "We have met the enemy and they are ours!" is widely known among students of American history. Little known is the fact that Perry was a numismatist in his day. Some years ago we auctioned tokens, Japanese coins, and other items from his long-hidden estate.
