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

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

4018

Erhaltungsgrad

MS63BN

Preis

50.400

Losbeschreibung

47.5 mm. 46.15 grams. A lovely and desirable example of America's most beloved medal. Both sides are smooth and lustrous, with magnificent detail throughout. The overall appearance is one of warm golden-brown patina, although plenty of deeper bronze color is seen nestled around and among the design elements. A tiny mark behind the leopard's back on the reverse, two others on the obverse below the bust, and a few tiny spots on both sides are hardly worth mentioning, leaving it to some extremely faint hairlines from ancient numismatic handling to justify the MS-63 numeric grade from PCGS. The overall aesthetic appeal is excellent for both the type and grade.<p>The most marquee entry in the canon of early American medals, the Libertas Americana medal has honestly earned its fame and desirability. Struck in April 1783 in Paris at the direct behest of Benjamin Franklin, every Libertas Americana medal was guided into the hands of its recipient by Franklin himself. A substantial parcel of them were sent to Philadelphia, where the Congress of the Confederation met until June 1783, to be distributed to members of that august body. Others were distributed to friends all over Europe and the United States. Most were shiny gems when Franklin performed one of the most important acts of his political career, acting as one of the three American signatories of the Treaty of Paris (alongside Johns Adams and Jay) in September 1783.<p>Bronze Libertas Americana medals continue to grow in interest and popularity. They are numerous enough to be obtainable, extant in a wide variety of grades that allow a wide swath of those interested to have one in their sights. But for connoisseurs, who can be patient enough to wait for an example that still looks much the same as when it was delivered to Franklin himself, examples like this turn up rarely and are worth competing for. Over the last 15 years, as most nice Libertas Americana medals have been sold with certified grades, we have handled medals of this quality or better an average of once per year. Only two calendar years in that span saw us sell more than one bronze Libertas Americana medal graded MS-63 BN or finer. So while bronze examples of this famous type may appear frequently, examples like this do not.