1783 (post-1807) Washington/Franklin Peace of 1783 Medal. Betts-617, Julian CM-5, Musante GW-92, Baker-58, Greenslet GM-82. Silver. Specimen-63 (PCGS). A beautiful and important early American medal, struck at the Philadelphia Mint about 1807 as part of the first generation of Sansoms brief series illustrative of events and personages of the American Revolution. John Reichs designs are struck up to their intended majestic detail, rising from lightly reflective surfaces that are mostly light silver gray with highlights of pale blue. Some trivial hairlines are present, along with a few minor marks and a long thin hairline scratch hidden on the central device between Washingtons hair and his epaulet. The visual appeal is excellent, particularly for a medal struck for the unsophisticated collector base of the early 19th century, who were not quite as savvy to finer points of preservation as those buying medals from the U.S. Mint after the Civil War. Ford owned three of these. One was sold with his Washingtoniana (Ford II), and two others were sold with his Franklin and Betts material (Ford XIV). We resold the other example from Ford XIV (later in the Brent Pogue Collection), graded PCGS Specimen-64 in our sale of March 2020 at $28,800. Baker owned two, and we sold both in November 2019 as lots 20078 (PCGS Specimen-62) and 20079 (PCGS Specimen-64). We also sold LaRivieres in 1999 and Steinbergs in 1992. In addition to the seven weve sold, Heritage has sold one; Steinbergs reappeared in the Donald Partrick sale, graded NGC AU-58. It brought $19,200 in March 2021. With its popular and evocative designs celebrating the peace treaty that ended the Revolution, as well as the two leading lights of the era, this medal is found in a wide array of cabinets. Very few ever get to own one in silver, however, as we estimate the population to be perhaps a dozen, at most. PCGS Population: 1, 2 finer (Specimen-64 finest). From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation. Earlier ex Godfrey Weiners, October 25, 1960; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIV, May 2006, lot 341.
