1779 (1845-1860) Captain John Paul Jones / Bonhomme Richard vs. Serapis Medal. Paris Mint Restrike from Original Dies. Copper. 56 mm. Betts-568, Julian NA-1, Adams-Bentley 8. Specimen-64 (PCGS).Charming autumn-brown surfaces are overall smooth in hand with a delightful satin texture to the finish. Sharply defined and supremely attractive, only a few faint swirls of widely scattered carbon on the obverse preclude a full Gem rating. Struck from original dies that retain all of the diagnostic markers thereof, including three tiny dashes between the words CLASSIS and PRAEFECTO on the obverse, a small concentration of rust above the ribbon that binds Jones hair, a tiny slip of the engravers hand or similar die injury below the letter O in JONES, considerable rust around the letter A in PAVLO, and a slip of the engravers hand on the reverse that joins the top of the letters IB in NAVIBVS. The edge is marked with a pointing hand and CUIVRE at 6 oclock, indicating that this medal is a Paris Mint restrike from the stated era.
