1602 Silver Medal Betts-21, New World Rivalry
Strike Type
Coin Details
Auction Record
- Price realized
- $5,040
- Sold
- Grade
- XF45
- Auction house
- Stack's Bowers
Description
This 1602 silver medal, Betts-21, commemorates New World rivalry among European powers. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company was founded, Bartholomew Gosnold explored New England and named Cape Cod, and Sebastian Vizcaino mapped the California coast for Spain. The medal captures the intense competition among maritime powers that would shape the Americas for centuries. Struck in silver, this piece was intended for diplomats, merchants, or court officials involved in colonial ventures. Its presence in the Betts catalog underscores its importance as a document of early American colonial history at a pivotal moment when multiple European nations were actively competing for territorial claims.
Rarity Notes
Silver medals from this early period rarely appear at auction.
Cross References
Betts-21
External References
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