1755 Silver Medal Betts-392, Safety at Sea

Coin Details

Auction Record

$9,600 MS62 12-18-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1755 silver medal (Betts-392) is titled "Safety at Sea," a maritime-themed piece from the opening year of the French and Indian War. The theme of safe maritime passage was critically important during colonial wars, when naval engagements, privateering, and storms made transatlantic voyages hazardous. Colonial trade depended on safe sea routes connecting European markets with American ports, and the disruption of maritime commerce was a primary strategic objective for all belligerents. The 1755 date coincides with the beginning of open hostilities between France and Britain in North America, following the defeat of George Washington at Fort Necessity in 1754 and General Braddock's disastrous expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1755. Silver medals of this type reflect the anxieties and hopes of a commercial society dependent on oceanic trade.

Rarity Notes

Original 1755 silver. Maritime theme during early French and Indian War. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-392; Safety at Sea 1755; French and Indian War era