1783 AE Medal Betts-615, Libertas Americana, BN MS(PCGS#151815)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4029

Grade

MS63BN

Price

45,600

Lot Description

An absolutely outstanding, fully Choice example of this classic rarity among early American medals. Rich copper brown surfaces are glossy in texture with razor sharp detail to the exquisite high relief design. A touch of ancient surface build up in the protected areas around the devices and along the borders enhance the medal's desirability by further confirming its originality. A few shallow handling marks in the upper reverse field are mentioned solely for accuracy and, indeed, they are hardly evident to the unaided eye. Lovingly cared for over the years, we expect that this beautiful piece will have little difficulty finding its way into another significant cabinet.<p>Landing in the number one spot in the popular reference <em>100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens</em>, the Libertas Americana medal has always been an object of intense desire. These pieces were struck in Paris to commemorate peace following the American victory over Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. It is the most symbolic and desirable of all of the peace medals. The concept and mottoes that make up the design are attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who at the time was serving as U.S. commissioner to France. While in France, Franklin set about the production of a medal to give to a select few he deemed instrumental in securing American independence. The Libertas Americana medal was to be symbolic of the winning of American liberty, not only on the battlefields of the New World but also in the courts of Europe, most particularly that of France. For without French support American victory over Great Britain would not have been possible. And since it was Franklin who secured the support of the king and queen of France, he was as indispensable to the political victory of the American Colonies as George Washington was to their military victory.<p>The dies for the Libertas Americana medal were cut in Paris in 1782 by Augustin Dupre. The obverse portrait would later influence the first renditions of Liberty to appear on United States coinage, specifically those of the Liberty Cap copper coinage and the Flowing Hair silver coinage. The reverse design is highly symbolic, the two serpents representing the American victory over the British at the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown, but Minerva keeping the British lion at bay confirming that ultimate American independence would not have been possible without French aid. The dates in exergue on the reverse are the dates of the colonists' victories over General John Burgoyne at Saratoga and General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown.<p>All original Libertas Americana medals are scarce-to-rare pieces (Paris Mint restrikes of later years have bullion or minimal value) with most examples encountered in today's market being copper impressions, as here. Far rarer are the silver strikings that Franklin himself presented to French ministers, "as a monumental acknowledgement, which may go down to future ages, of the obligations [the United States is] under to [the French] nation." Two gold strikings that Franklin presented to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette of France are not traced.<p>While we have been extremely fortunate to have offered a number of bronze Libertas Americana medals in recent years, few have been as attractive and desirable as this premium quality example. Strong bids are encouraged.