1720 Silver Medal Betts-126/127, John Law - Where Money Talks

Coin Details

Auction Record

$10,200 XF40 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1720 silver medal (Betts-126/127) is a John Law / Mississippi Bubble piece titled "Where Money Talks." The dual Betts number (126/127) indicates this medal combines elements cataloged under two separate numbers, through a muling of obverse and reverse dies from different medals in the series. John Law's financial scheme promised that France's vast Louisiana territory held inexhaustible wealth — gold, silver, and precious stones — that would make investors fabulously rich. The reality was that Louisiana was largely unexplored swampland, and the company's shares were backed by fantasy rather than assets. 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. The title "Where Money Talks" may reference either the persuasive power of Law's promises or the satirical observation that money spoke louder than reason during the speculative mania.

Rarity Notes

Original 1720 silver. Dual Betts number indicates die combination variant. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-126/127; John Law; Mississippi Bubble 1720; Where Money Talks