(1687) Silver Medal Betts-67, Eimer-285b 1971 Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 MS64 11-21-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver medal, Betts-67 by Eimer-285b, is a 1971 restrike of the St. Domingo / Silver Shoals treasure recovery medal. The date "1687" on the medal refers to the original event, while the piece itself was produced in 1971, as part of a modern collector edition. William Phips' 1687 recovery of treasure from the Spanish galleon Concepcion on the Silver Shoals north of Hispaniola was one of the great treasure hunting stories of the colonial era. Phips recovered approximately 34 tons of silver and other valuables, earning him a knighthood and the governorship of Massachusetts. Medal production technology evolved significantly during the Betts period, from the hand-engraved dies and screw presses of the sixteenth century to the more mechanized operations that became standard by the mid-eighteenth century. This modern restrike allows collectors to own a version of this historically significant medal.

Rarity Notes

Available as a modern restrike. The 1971 production makes this more accessible than original strikings.

Cross References

Betts-67, Eimer-285b (1971 restrike)