1716 Bronze Medal Adams S-5, Happiness of France

Coin Details

Description

This bronze medal, cataloged as Adams S-5, depicts the "Happiness of France" theme and dates to 1716, making it one of the earliest medals in this collection. The Adams catalog, compiled by John Adams (not the president), is a standard reference for early American-related medals and tokens. The 1716 date places this medal during the Regency period in France following the death of Louis XIV in 1715, when Philippe d'Orleans served as regent for the young Louis XV. The "Happiness of France" (Felicitas Galliae) theme was common in French medallic art of the period, celebrating the peace and prosperity that followed the end of Louis XIV's costly wars, including the War of the Spanish Succession. This medal's inclusion in the Adams catalog indicates its relevance to American numismatic study, through French colonial connections or its place in the broader European medallic tradition that influenced American medal design. Bronze French medals from the early eighteenth century are among the oldest pieces collected in the American numismatic context.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Adams S-5, 1716 French bronze medal. Early eighteenth-century medals are scarce survivors with over 300 years of age.

Cross References

PCGS #955727; Adams S-5; Happiness of France; 1716; Bronze