1687 Silver Medal Betts-66, Lord Albemarle

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,463 Genuine 02-16-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1687 silver medal, Betts-66, commemorates Lord Albemarle and events of the late seventeenth century colonial period. The Albemarle name is closely associated with English colonization, particularly in the Carolinas, where the Albemarle settlement was one of the earliest English communities in the region. By 1687, English colonial expansion was accelerating under the restored Stuart monarchy, with new proprietary colonies being established and existing settlements growing rapidly. Colonial-era medals were produced at royal mints, private workshops, and jewelers' studios across Europe, with production quality ranging from masterfully engraved official issues to crudely cast provincial pieces. This medal documents the intersection of English aristocratic patronage and colonial development during a period when wealthy investors and titled patrons played essential roles in funding and directing colonial ventures in the Americas.

Rarity Notes

Rare. English colonial patronage medals from the 1680s are very scarce.

Cross References

Betts-66