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Col( 1782) Liber Americana Bronze MS60

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Col( 1782) Liber Americana Bronze MS60

Colonials (1782) Libertas Americana Medal. Struck in Bronze. Mint State 60. 47.5mm. Glossy brown surfaces emit a pretty rose, ice blue and pale gold iridescent glimmer. Surfaces possess scattered light contact marks and a single small obverse rim bruise at 9 o'clock, but no unsightly rubbing or handling. It is far superior to most examples the appear for sale.<BR><BR>This classic medal is said to have been commissioned by Benjamin Franklin, commemorating the surrender of British armies at Saratoga and Yorktown. It was executed by renowned French medallist Augustin Dupre, and struck at the Paris Mint as a tribute to America's independence. The obverse depicts a flowing hair Miss Liberty and a Phrygian cap on a pole, the latter a French symbol of freedom. Interestingly, the Liberty head and cap motif were later incorporated into the design for America's first half cent in a revised version. An impressively engraved reverse depicts Minerva (representing France), protecting the infant Hercules (representing America) from a lion (representing England). The infant is shown fending off two snakes in his cradle (Saratoga and Yorktown).<BR><BR>This classic medal is one of the earliest commemorative artifacts celebrating the American victories which concluded the Revolutionary War. Ex Early American History Auctions 10/14/2000, Lot 1044. Estimate $2,500.00-$3,000.00