1776 (1876) United States Diplomatic Medal. By Augustin Dupre. U.S. Mint Copy Dies by Charles E. Barber. Julian CM-15. Bronze. Specimen-66 (PCGS). 67 mm. A lovely Gem-quality example of this historic and eagerly sought medallic type. Both sides are warmly and evenly toned in dominant golden-brown, the obverse with a tinge of light reddish-orange also evident at most lighting angles. The fields exhibit prooflike reflectivity that supports satiny, fully impressed design elements. This is one of just a handful of medals struck from dies prepared by Charles E. Barber, copying from cliches of the adopted obverse and unadopted reverse made available to him in 1875. A single silver specimen is recorded in mintage figures for the 1876/77 fiscal year, likely the one sent in April 1876 to Professor Jules Marcou, who supplied his original Diplomatic medal cliches to the U.S. Mint to serve as models for Barbers copy dies.<p>According to Mint records, just 65 pieces were struck in bronze from these dies between 1876 and 1904. Originals are beyond the realm of possibility for most, making this version of the Diplomatic medal a very desirable item. The Chapmans bitterly called this production a "US Mint counterfeit" after they failed to sell their original to the Mint Collection. On the other hand, Elizabeth Bryant Johnston, writing in <em>A Visit to the Cabinet of the United States Mint at Philadelphia</em><em>, 1876</em>, noted, "the reproduction by C. Barber is finely executed, and the bronzing exceptionally beautiful." We could not agree more with this assessment, the differences between the original Diplomatic medal design and these Barber-created restrike dies lie mostly in the placement and size of the legends. With just four original Diplomatic medals known, only three of which are in private hands, the chances of the average collector owning one are slim. The Barber restrikes, of which this is one of the finest certified survivors, are a good replacement. Lesser quality examples of these beautiful Centennial restrikes have sold in excess of $7,000 at auction. Sure to see spirited bidding.
