1804 Commodore Preble / War with Tripoli Medal. Uniface Electrotype Shell Copy of Reverse. Gilt. 61.9 mm. Julian NA-3, for type. Mint State.An incredibly finely produced electrotype with essentially perfect reproduction of the finely engraved original depicting the naval action off the coast of Tripoli with numerous American warships attacking various targets around the harbor. The gilt surface is bright and prooflike, rich in shades of orange and yellow-gold. The back side of the piece shows an incuse and reversed image of the front, in a reddish-copper color and lacking the crispness of the image on the front. Somewhat reminiscent of the silver shell version of the War With Tripoli medal that we (Stacks) sold in Part V of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, 2004, lot 164.
