1777 B. Franklin of Philadelphia Medal. Unidentified English Medalist. Betts-547, Greenslet GM-40, Adams-Bentley 14. Bronze. Specimen-63 BN (PCGS). The origins of the 1777 B. Franklin of Philadelphia medal are obscure. The distinctive portrait, and the unusual basining of the reverse, bring to mind a group of medals that are clearly related: the 1778 Washington "Voltaire" medal, the 1777 Chevalier D'Eon medal, and the 1776 David Hume medal. Tony Lopez did a good job punchlinking this group in the June 2008 MCA Advisory, and finding that a group of medals shares a punchset is good evidence if not a slam dunk that they come from the same workshop. The August 2008 issue of the same journal features a detailed examination by English medal mensch Christopher Eimer, reflecting on the conversation he and Richard Margolis had shared years earlier discussing many of the same connections among these medals, while cautioning that little evidence connects these medals to the liberal-minded ceramics makers Wedgwood and Bentley.

Provenance: Ex New Netherlands Coin Company, January 23, 1963; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIV, May 2006, lot 337.

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1777 B. Franklin of Philadelphia Medal. Unidentified English Medalist. Betts-547, Greenslet GM-40, Adams-Bentley 14. Bronze. Specimen-63 BN (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2VY1/1777-b-franklin-of-philadelphia-medal-unidentified-english-medalist-betts-547-greenslet-gm-40-adams-bentley-14-bronze-specimen-63)

"1781" (1783) Libertas Americana Medal. Original. Paris Mint. By Augustin Dupre. Betts-615, Adams-Bentley 15. Silver. Thick Planchet. MS-61 (PCGS). No other medal in the canon of American numismatics is invested with so much history and importance as the Libertas Americana medal. It followed the declaration of American independence, whose date is placed in the obverse legend, and the support of France in the American cause. The two greatest American victories, that of Gates at Saratoga and Washington at Yorktown, are referenced with dates in the reverse exergue. The British armies defeated on those dates, Burgoyne's force at Saratoga and that of Cornwallis at Yorktown, are incorporated into the reverse allegory as the snakes strangled by Hercules in his crib. In that allegory, France is depicted as Minerva, defending the infant from the lioness, Great Britain, whose tail curls between her hind legs. The obverse design influenced many of the depictions of Liberty that would come from the first United States Mint, directly inspiring the Liberty Cap design found on copper half cents and cents in the 1790s. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of later American medals and tokens used the design, from privately issued business cards to the United States Mint's 1945 Assay Commission medal. Its image was featured on contemporary engravings and textiles, and examples could be found in the 18th century in the collections of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and more. No founding father is as closely associated with the medal, of course, as Benjamin Franklin. The medal was his brainchild and pet project, and every specimen that survives traces its provenance to him.

Provenance: From the Bernardi Collection. Acquired by our consignor in 1981 shortly after discovery on a farm in the Amish community. This is its first known public offering.

To read the complete item description, see:
"1781" (1783) Libertas Americana Medal. Original. Paris Mint. By Augustin Dupre. Betts-615, Adams-Bentley 15. Silver. Thick Planchet. MS-61 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2W18/1781-1783-libertas-americana-medal-original-paris-mint-by-augustin-dupre-betts-615-adams-bentley-15-silver-thick-planchet-ms)

"1783" (ca. 1808) Washington / Franklin Treaty of Paris Sansom Medal. Betts-617, Musante GW-92, Baker-58, Greenslet GM-82, Julian CM-5. Silver. Specimen-62 (PCGS). This is the fourth and final entry in Joseph Sansom's series celebrating the History of the Revolution, the title he himself used on the case that held the three medals of the series he retained for himself (a set that we have had the pleasure of selling at auction intact more than once). The C.C.A.U.S. (Commander in Chief, Armies of the United States) medal was the first of the four, followed by the Presidency Relinquished medal, the Franklin / American Beaver medal, and finally, this one, issued at the end of the series in 1808. Unlike the bronzed copper specimens, silver examples do not appear to have been restruck. They are immensely historic, engraved by the talented John Reich, and rightfully prized by collectors to this day.

Provenance: From our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the David W. Dreyfuss Collection, April 1986, lot 5405.

To read the complete item description, see:
"1783" (ca. 1808) Washington / Franklin Treaty of Paris Sansom Medal. Betts-617, Musante GW-92, Baker-58, Greenslet GM-82, Julian CM-5. Silver. Specimen-62 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2W20/1783-ca-1808-washington-franklin-treaty-of-paris-sansom-medal-betts-617-musante-gw-92-baker-58-greenslet-gm-82-julian-cm-5-)

"1781" (ca. 1789) Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, Battle of the Cowpens Medal. Original. Paris Mint. By Pierre Simon DuVivier. Betts-594, Adams-Bentley 11. Silver. AU-53 (PCGS). When this piece is added to the three extant silver pieces that were accurately included in the Adams-Bentley census, it makes a total population of just four survivors, of which just three are in private hands. Remarkably, this is the third of those three to cross our podiums.

It's more than possible that one of the two we've sold, or this one, was William Washington's own.

Silver Comitia Americana medals are among the most powerfully desirable items in the realm of American numismatics. Distributed in tiny numbers to crowned heads and learned institutions of Europe, along with their Congressionally authorized recipient in this case, these original medals were not struck on spec or as collector items by the Paris Mint. Their production was intentional and their meager distribution was intentionally special, shepherded to completion by Founding Fathers like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and William Short. No one will ever complete a set of Comitia Americana medals in silver, and even the most "common" of them are extraordinary rarities.

Provenance: From Wayte Raymond's sale of the W.W.C. Wilson Collection, Part I, November 1925, lot 811.

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"1781" (ca. 1789) Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, Battle of the Cowpens Medal. Original. Paris Mint. By Pierre Simon DuVivier. Betts-594, Adams-Bentley 11. Silver. AU-53 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2W4K/1781-ca-1789-lieutenant-colonel-william-washington-battle-of-the-cowpens-medal-original-paris-mint-by-pierre-simon-duvivier-be)

1825 John Quincy Adams Inaugural Medal. Julian PR-5, Neuzil-45. Silver. Very Fine, Holed. Michael Hodder commented in the description of the Ford piece that this medal was "undoubtedly, extremely rare in silver," and the fact that we have seen just two since, including this one, suggests he was quite correct. Our sale of the fabulous Garrett Collection included a silver specimen that had a prominent oxidation spot behind Adams' head and still realized nearly $10,000 all the way back in 1981. Other examples are in the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society and the American Numismatic Society. Clearly, opportunities to acquire this medal in silver are precious few and very far between, regardless of grade.

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1825 John Quincy Adams Inaugural Medal. Julian PR-5, Neuzil-45. Silver. Very Fine, Holed.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WDD/1825-john-quincy-adams-inaugural-medal-julian-pr-5-neuzil-45-silver-very-fine-holed)

1869 New York State Agricultural Society Award Medal. Harkness-Ny 392, Julian AM-61. Gold. Specimen-63 (PCGS). Julian reports that the United States Mint did not receive the dies (two pairs) for this type until 1885, so the present example must be one of those specimens that the author states were struck prior to 1870 at private mints. Indeed, the dies for this type were prepared in the 1840s by William Joseph Taylor in Birmingham, England, using designs supplied by Francis Rotch, Esq., in fulfillment of an order placed by the Society. The latter received the dies, as well as the first medals struck, in 1845. This is only the second gold impression that we have offered in recent memory, and it is the counterpart to the specimen awarded to Walcott & Campbell in 1870 that realized $8,400 in our June 2024 Showcase Auction. It was also certified Specimen-63 by PCGS.

To read the complete item description, see:
1869 New York State Agricultural Society Award Medal. Harkness-Ny 392, Julian AM-61. Gold. Specimen-63 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WPH/1869-new-york-state-agricultural-society-award-medal-harkness-ny-392-julian-am-61-gold-specimen-63-pcgs)

(1913) Carnegie Hero Fund Medal. Gold. Awarded to Julius B. Gordon. Mint State, Engraving Effaced. While we have handled numerous bronze examples over the years, not surprisingly given their high distribution, our online archives back to 2009 include only three different silver examples, awarded in 1907, 1909 and 1920. This is the first gold award medal that we can recall offering, and it is a particularly intriguing specimen. While clearly an awarded example, the inscription to the recipient on the cartouche has been almost completely effaced by numerous tiny digs that, when viewed as a whole, provide a stippled effect to the surface in that area. Close inspection of the penultimate line in the inscription with a loupe, however, reveals traces of the following letters: ER CK OKLA. These are the letters for Frederick, Oklahoma. The third-to-last and penultimate gold Carnegie medals were awarded in 1913 to residents of Frederick, Oklahoma - Charles Zolninger and Julius B. Gordon - for helping to rescue Oliver H. Brewer and Alvah Dean from a cave-in in a well in that town on October 28, 1913. Zolninger and Gordon also received a money award. Two other men (William H. Reed, Sr. and John F. Steinbock) received silver medals and a sum of money for the same rescue.

To read the complete item description, see:
(1913) Carnegie Hero Fund Medal. Gold. Awarded to Julius B. Gordon. Mint State, Engraving Effaced.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WQO/1913-carnegie-hero-fund-medal-gold-awarded-to-julius-b-gordon-mint-state-engraving-effaced)

1800 Charleston Slave Hire Badge. Mechanic. No. 349. By Ralph Atmar. Copper. Very Fine. The 1800-dated tags are very distinctive within the Charleston slave tag series. They are the only tags made by Ralph Atmar and the only ones made in this small octagonal format. Known occupations of 1800 tags are House Servant, Porter, Fisher, and Mechanic. Out of the 146 tags in the National Museum of African American History and Culture collection, only five are from Atmar's 1800 emission: two Mechanics, two Fishers, and a House Servant. We've sold 1800 Porter No. 423 twice, once in January 2006 and later in the August 2023 Syd Martin sale, where it brought $6,600 despite being broken in half and backed. Heritage has sold a Porter (the same tag on two occasions), a Fisher, and a Mechanic. The 1800 Fisher No. 69 from the Jeff Pitts collection brought $20,700 in our (Bowers and Merena's) November 2001 sale.

To read the complete item description, see:
1800 Charleston Slave Hire Badge. Mechanic. No. 349. By Ralph Atmar. Copper. Very Fine.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WTR/1800-charleston-slave-hire-badge-mechanic-no-349-by-ralph-atmar-copper-very-fine)

Undated (1652) NE Shilling. Noe 1-A, Salmon 1-B, W-40. Rarity-6+. VF-30 (PCGS). The NE shillings were struck between initial authorization on June 11, 1652 and the order to change the design on October 19, 1652, though it seems likely production continued after the legal decree of the new designs, at least until new dies were made and a press to use them was readied. There is no argument than the New England shillings were the first coins struck in what became the United States. Over the period of six months or so when these were produced, only the very rare Noe 1-D (four known) appears to have preceded this variety - and the die state of this specimen shows it was struck early among the Noe 1-As. While New England shillings are prime trophies for specialists in colonial coins, this primacy, historicity, and rarity makes collectors of all sorts desire these greatly. It's no wonder four of these are in museums in the United Kingdom, as they are of dramatic importance to collectors of British coins as well.

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Undated (1652) NE Shilling. Noe 1-A, Salmon 1-B, W-40. Rarity-6+. VF-30 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WVL/undated-1652-ne-shilling-noe-1-a-salmon-1-b-w-40-rarity-6-vf-30-pcgs)

Undated (1652) NE Threepence. Noe 1-A, Salmon 1-A, W-1. Rarity-8. EF-45 (PCGS). CMQ-X. The history of this coin is dramatic, important, and shared with other rare products made in Hull and Sanderson's mint after May 1652. The General Court of Massachusetts Bay established a mint for silver coins by terms of their Mint Act of May 26/27, 1652. Their choice for mintmaster, silversmith John Hull, memorialized his appointment in his diary:

Upon occasion of much counterfeit coin brought in the country, and much loss accruing in that respect (and that did occasion a stoppage of trade), the General Court ordered a mint to be set up, and to coin it, bringing it to the sterling standard for fineness, and for weight every shilling to be three pennyweight; i.e., 9d at 5s per oz. And they made choice of me for that employment; and I chose my friend, Robert Sanderson, to be my partner, to which the Court consented.

Hull was paid as a proportion of the coins he struck, and his mint would recoin any sort of silver that depositors supplied. In other words, a citizen of Boston could deliver other sorts of coins (including those that were worn out or counterfeit, as long as they were silver), flatware, hollowware, or anything else, and Hull would return to them coins of good, properly assayed silver minus a small percentage (6.5%) to pay for Hull's expenses and a smaller percentage (1.25%) to cover silver lost in the assaying process. The 8% charges allowed every Massachusetts citizen to turn their unwanted silver or unspendable coins into easy, ready cash.

The primary effort Hull exerted was in the assaying process, which required significant expertise, acquisition of chemicals and equipment, and careful attention to the work. Coining the coins was relatively easy: silver sheet was clipped down to proper size and weight, and two stamps were applied. The stamp for the obverse was a simple NE hallmark, representing New England, and the stamp for the reverse denoted the denomination: XII for shillings (12 pence), VI for a sixpence, and III for a threepence. The same amount of work was required for each coin, regardless of denomination.

It is not hard to imagine why NE shillings are more numerous than NE sixpence or NE threepence.

Provenance: From the Janssen Sastra Collection. Discovered in the Netherlands in 2016.

To read the complete item description, see:
Undated (1652) NE Threepence. Noe 1-A, Salmon 1-A, W-1. Rarity-8. EF-45 (PCGS). CMQ-X.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WWG/undated-1652-ne-threepence-noe-1-a-salmon-1-a-w-1-rarity-8-ef-45-pcgs-cmq-x)

1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-1, Salmon 1-A, W-430. Rarity-3. IN at Left. AU-50 (PCGS). Very typical centering for a Noe-1 Oak Tree. Most obverse letters run to the edge, although the reverse is better centered. Clear outlines of the reverse die edge visible at top and bottom, none on obverse. This coin is evidence that the obverse die was broader than the reverse because when it was trimmed at the mint it lost some of its outer design. Edge ragged at right on obverse, as made. Obvious S bend, as made, but without any elongation to the letters. No reverse die break through the tops of the letters in NEW, and so an earlier state of these dies. The collector seeking a single Oak Tree shilling would be wise to give this piece serious consideration.

Provenance: From the Ross Family Collection. Earlier ex S.H. & H. Chapman's sale of the Harlan P. Smith Collection, May 1906, lot 4; S.H. Chapman's sale of the William Gable Collection, May 1914, lot 149; Stack's, May 12, 1987, privately to the following; our (Stack's) sale of the Hain Family Collection of Massachusetts Silver Coins, January 2002, lot 13.

To read the complete item description, see:
1652 Oak Tree Shilling. Noe-1, Salmon 1-A, W-430. Rarity-3. IN at Left. AU-50 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1E2WWR/1652-oak-tree-shilling-noe-1-salmon-1-a-w-430-rarity-3-in-at-left-au-50-pcgs)

1652 Pine Tree Threepence. Noe-37, Salmon 2a-B, W-640. Rarity-5. Without Pellets at Trunk. MS-61 (PCGS). When Walter Breen cataloged the grounder Kendall coin in its earlier appearance in Superior's 1974 Ruby sale, he called it "unquestionably above average condition for the variety," which, while perhaps not true, points out that most examples from these dies have not survived in tip-top shape. Partrick's coin, ex Hain, was certainly exceptional - it sold in Heritage's January 2015 Signature Auction certified NGC/CAC AU-53. Syd Martin's was unexceptional in a PCGS Fine Details holder due to damage, and a perusal of our archives shows that most others that we have offered in the last couple decades have been impaired for one reason or another. The Boyd-Ford specimen offered here is in a category all its own - far and away the finest that we have seen from these dies, and a coin that would serve as a leading highlight in any cabinet.

Provenance: Ex F.C.C. Boyd; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part