1720 Medal Betts-147

Coin Details

Description

This 1720 medal, Betts-147, is another piece from the significant year of 1720 documenting French colonial affairs. The concentration of Betts medals from 1720 (numbers 114-147+) reflects the enormous public interest in France's American colonies generated by the Mississippi Scheme, even after its collapse. The medals produced during this period range from official commemoratives celebrating colonial development to satirical pieces mocking the speculative mania. Together, they constitute one of the richest numismatic records of any single year in colonial American history, documenting the intersection of finance, colonization, and politics that defined France's relationship with its American empire during this pivotal period. 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.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Part of the extensive 1720 medal series.

Cross References

Betts-147