1702 Silver Medal Betts-101, Eimer-394 American Treasure

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,800 MS63 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1702 silver medal, Betts-101, cataloged as Eimer-394, commemorates American treasure and the naval conflicts surrounding its transport during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Eimer cross-reference identifies this as a documented British historical medal. The vast quantities of silver and gold flowing from American mines to Europe through the Spanish treasure fleet system made these shipments irresistible targets during wartime. The 1702 medal documents the intersection of American mineral wealth and European power politics, a theme that would continue to drive colonial conflicts throughout the eighteenth century. The tradition of striking commemorative medals for New World events began with Spanish and Portuguese pieces in the sixteenth century, expanded through Dutch and French production in the seventeenth, and reached its peak with British issues during the colonial wars. The silver composition appropriately mirrors the treasure that was the medal's subject.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Important medal connecting American treasure to European wars.

Cross References

Betts-101, Eimer-394