1643-1644 Silver Medal Betts-35, Maryland Map

Coin Details

Description

This 1643-44 silver medal, Betts-35, is the celebrated Maryland Map medal, one of the most important early American colonial medals. It features a map of the Chesapeake Bay region commemorating the founding and early development of the Province of Maryland, established by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, under a charter from King Charles I in 1632. Maryland was notable as a proprietary colony with provisions for religious tolerance, attracting Catholic settlers who faced persecution in England. The medal's map imagery is among the earliest cartographic representations on a medal, providing a contemporary visualization of the colony's geography. The dissemination of commemorative medals through diplomatic channels, military distribution, and commercial sale created a network of information about New World events that complemented printed news and official correspondence. Dating from the English Civil War period, it also reflects political tensions affecting colonial governance.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare and highly important. The Maryland Map medal is one of the most celebrated pieces in early American numismatics.

Cross References

Betts-35