1690 Bronze Medal Betts-68, Quebec Preserved

Coin Details

Description

This 1690 bronze medal, Betts-68, commemorates the preservation of Quebec during King William's War (1689-1697), the first of the French and Indian Wars. In October 1690, a New England expedition of approximately 2,000 men under Sir William Phips sailed to Quebec and demanded the surrender of the city. Governor Frontenac famously replied that he would answer through the mouths of his cannons, and the attackers were repulsed after a brief siege. The failed English assault on Quebec ensured French control of the St. Lawrence for another seventy years. Colonial medals served multiple functions simultaneously: as propaganda tools promoting imperial policy, as diplomatic gifts establishing relationships with indigenous peoples and rival powers, and as commemorative art preserving historical memory. This medal celebrates one of the most dramatic episodes in early Canadian military history and the successful defense of New France's capital.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Quebec Preserved medals are among the most important Canadian colonial pieces.

Cross References

Betts-68