(1736) Silver Medal Betts-169, Jernegan Cistern

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,080 MS63 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver medal, Betts-169, commemorates the Jernegan Cistern or Lottery around 1736. The Jernegan Cistern was a famous silver wine cistern created by silversmith Henry Jernegan and raffled by lottery in 1736 as a promotional venture connected to colonial commerce. The cistern, one of the largest pieces of silver plate ever created in England, was decorated with scenes of British colonial trade and commerce. The lottery attracted enormous public attention and the cistern itself became a celebrated symbol of British commercial prosperity. 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 documents the intersection of colonial trade, decorative arts, and popular entertainment that characterized Georgian-era British culture.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The Jernegan Cistern medal connects colonial commerce with popular culture.

Cross References

Betts-169