LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Jan. FUN Signature Coin Auction #454  / 

2652

1781 Libertas Americana Medal MS63 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1781 Libertas Americana Medal MS63 NGC
<B>1781 Libertas Americana Medal MS63 NGC.</B></I> Betts-615. Bronze, 47.69 mm, 46.15 gm. An American classic! This issue tops the list of the recently published book entitled <I>100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens</B></I> by Katherine Jaeger and Dave Bowers. In fact, the same reference features a silver version as the cover coin. The authors eloquently summarize the popularity of this medal in their opening statement: "When all the votes were counted for the <I>100 Greatest</B></I>, the Libertas Americana was elected No. 1, and by a good margin. Its beauty, its rich history, and its inspiration for federal Liberty Cap coinage combine to make this medal an object of desire for many numismatists."<BR> Without question, the allure of the Libertas Americana (Betts-615) is further enhanced by the fact that the concept was the creation of Benjamin Franklin, one of America's most memorable Founding Fathers and greatest citizens. A letter from Franklin to Robert Livingston (secretary of foreign affairs under the Confederation) on March 4, 1782 forever documents Franklin's role in the Libertas Americana medal. As transcribed from the <I>100 Greatest</B></I> reference, credited there as being from the letters of Jared Sparks, <I>Franklin's Works</B></I>, as quoted by William Sumner Appleton, <I>American Journal of Numismatics</B></I>, November 1867:<BR><BR>''This puts me in mind of a medal I have had a mind to strike, since the late great event you gave me an account of, representing the United States by the figure of an infant Hercules in his cradle, strangling the two serpents; and France by that of Minerva, sitting by as his nurse, with her spear and helmet, and her robe specked with a few fleurs de lis. The extinguishing of two entire armies in one war is what has rarely happened, and it gives a presage of the future force of our growing empire.''<BR> <BR> Because of the existence of above letter by Franklin, the allegorical theme on the reverse of the Libertas Americana medal requires no interpretation. The obverse date of "4 JUIL. 1776." is obviously a reference to the date of the adoption of America's Declaration of Independence. In the reverse exergue, the two dates correspond to Revolutionary War victories by American forces over the British at Saratoga (October 17, 1777) and Yorktown (October 19, 1781). The reverse legend, NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS, was suggested to Franklin by Sir William Jones. It is an ancient quote from the Roman lyric poet Horace and roughly translates to "the infant is not bold without divine aid." It has long been accepted that famed French medalist Augustin Dupré engraved the dies based on the sketches of Esprit-Antoine Gibelin. Dupré signed both the obverse and reverse dies of this medal, which was struck at the Paris Mint in 1783. There have been some suggestions recently that other artists were at least partially responsible for the design of the Libertas Americana medal, however such theories are just that and are not supported by concrete evidence.<BR> The Libertas Americana medal has a significant reach into world history as well. Researcher Alan M. Stahl relates in his article entitled "Comitia Americana Medals" written for the <I>Coinage of the American Confederation Perio</B></I>d reference (COAC, ANS, October 28, 1995) that Franklin, in 1783, "presented two gold specimens to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and silver ones to French ministers and the Grand Master of Malta; he sent a silver one to the President of Congress, Elias Boudinot, and promised copper ones for the members of Congress." Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were later executed at the height of the French Revolution in 1793, which, coincidentally, is a significant date in American numismatic history. The gold medals are untraced to this day and it is possible that they were melted during the turmoil in France after the executions of the King and Queen.<BR> The Jaeger-Bowers reference notes that 100 to 125 examples are believed to exist in copper. Many exist with blatant signs of handling, some are heavily damaged. The current example is certainly at the high end of the condition curve, based on a survey of examples sold at auction over the past several years. The glossy surfaces display a medium chocolate-brown coloration throughout and the details are well struck, as is typical for this issue. Listed on page 86 of the 2008 <I>Guide Book</B></I>.<BR><I>From The Madison Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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