 Franklin Eripuit Coelo Medal Shell, ca. 1786. Copper electrotype uniface, 47mm. Fuld FR.ME.NL.9. About Uncirculated. Aged Franklin bust l., resembling Dupré or Godel busts, Latin legend ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN, SCEPTRUMQUE TYRANNIS, He Snatched Lightning from the Heavens and the Scepter from the Tyrant. This compliment was undoubtedly based on a line from Roman poet Manilius' Astronomicon, (Book I, 104), and appears on Dupré's famous Paris Mint medals hailing Franklin's 80th birthday. This distinctive design does not occur as a struck medal.
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