1781 Libertas Americana Medal in Bronzed Copper Available in Baltimore
Filed Under: Auction News, Featured, Heritage Auction Galleries, Medals & Tokens
Until recently the reference by C. Wyllys Betts titled American Colonial History Illustrated by Contemporary Medals (originally published in 1894; Quarterman Publications reprint, 1972) was the standard, and in many ways is still is, in terms of sheer physical descriptions and characteristics of the 623 medals listed in that volume. A more recent work, however, titled Comitia Americana and Related Medals: Underappreciated Monuments to Our Heritage by John W. Adams and Anne E. Bentley (George Frederick Kolbe, 2007) has added to collectors’ knowledge of these wonderful pieces.
The obverse shows the head of Liberty with flowing hair facing left, pole with Liberty cap behind her head, the inspiration for the 1793 Liberty Cap half cents, a design variously ascribed to Joseph Wright, Adam Eckfeldt, Henry Voigt, Robert Birch, and/or David Rittenhouse. The legend LIBERTAS.AMERICANA. encircles her head, with the date 4 JUIL. 1776 in exergue (the date of signing of the Declaration of Independence, of course). On the reverse Minerva with shield and spear protects an infant from an attacking lion, with legend around NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS (“The infant is not bold without divine aid”). As paraphrased from Betts:
The medal conveys an adroit compliment to the French nation. The infant Hercules stands for the new American Republic and has strangled two serpents, symbolizing the American victories at Yorktown and Saratoga (dates in reverse exergue, with DUPRE.F.)–but he is still exposed to the attack of the “cowardly” British lion, tail between his legs, whose power is baffled by Minerva. Her lily (“fleur de lis”) shield shows her to be emblematic of France, coming to the aid of the Republic. The legend is taken from an ode of Horace, “Descende coelo” (“Heaven descends”). (more…)

Dallas, TX. Market demand remained strong for significant American numismatic rarities in the June 2008 Summer FUN Signature® Auction presented by Heritage Auction Galleries in West Palm Beach, June 26-27. Total prices realized for the American coins exceeded $12 million, and the total will rise further when the concluding session and post auction buys are finalized.
(Dallas, Texas) – An unprecedented “lot” will be offered in conjunction with the official auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® convention in Baltimore: lunch with Heritage Auction Galleries Co-Chairman, best-selling author and acclaimed numismatic authority, Jim Halperin.















