 Betts 615. Libertas Americana Medal, ca. 1782-1783. Silver. Betts 615. 929.2 grains. About Uncirculated. Obv. Flowing-hair Liberty with cap on pole, 4 Juil. 1776 in exergue. Rev. Minerva-France protects infant Hercules (the United States) from cowardly British leopard's attack. Both sides are toned in light coin silver gray in the fields. The peripheries are a slightly darker shade of gray. There are traces of palest iridescence in the fields. The strike is quite sharp, with all the detail in the design by Benjamin Franklin shown with almost crystal clarity. There is a short, shallow scratch in the upper left obverse field and some stray signs of handling including a tiny rim nick on the reverse. Struck on a thick flan, the piece has a solid and satisfying feel in the hand.
Ex Medio Collection (ANR & Stack's, June 23, 2004, lot 2073).
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