Framed Collection of (16) Uniface Electrotype Cliches of 18th and Early 19th Century Medals. Each medallic shell has been removed from the frame (which is included in this lot) to inspect the reverses. All have (or had) a copper nail soldered to the reverse for attachment to the frame.These electrotypes form an impressive and curious collection including shells of early American as well as European medals. The most significant pieces are the Comitia Americana pieces as described below.An electrotype of the reverse of the Anthony Wayne at Stony Point medal taken from the excessively rare original version of the medal, Betts-565; the reverse of the de Fleury at Stony Point medal, from the very rare original version, Betts-556; both obverse and reverse of the Daniel Morgan at Cowpens medal, Betts-593 from the copy dies; both obverse and reverse of the William Washington at Cowpens medal from the original dies, Betts-594; both sides of the John Eager Howard at Cowpens medal, Betts 595, again the original dies; and the reverse of the Libertas Americana medal, Betts-615. A number of these Comitia Americana electrotypes are highly desirable and extremely collectible as they represent what may well be the only way a particular die, or die state, can be obtained. Careful consideration of these pieces is recommended as they are destined to draw considerable attention.Other American or American-related pieces in this collection are an obverse of the first George Washington Manly medal, Musante GW-10; the Heros of Liberty Medal featuring Washington, Kosciusko and Lafayette, GW-149; and a Lafayette medal, Fuld LA.1824.3, Olivier-34.There are also (3) foreign pieces: the reverse of the Edward I Memorial medal from Dassiers series of English Kings and Queens, Eimer-10; the obverse of a French Death of Napoleon medal, Bramsen-1896; and the obverse of a Vatican Pope Pius IX Year II (1848) medal.All the electrotypes are in Extremely Fine or better condition and all have the fine bronzing suggestive of the Franklin Peale electrotypes of the 1840s. The nail applied to the reverse is missing from the Libertas Americana electrotype. The frame appears to be a drawer from a 19th century coin cabinet, and measures 8 1/2 inches x 13 1/2 inches with a drawer pull on one of the longer sides. There is a deep blue cloth affixed to the interior of the case, and on casual inspection it becomes clear by the nail holes and faded circles in the cloth that at one time it held 21 items, not just the 16 that are enumerated here. One can only wonder which medals the missing pieces were!
