1759 Bronze Medal Betts-422, James Wolfe

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,040 MS64BN 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1759 bronze medal (Betts-422) honors Major General James Wolfe, the British commander who died leading the assault that captured Quebec on September 13, 1759. Wolfe's victory on the Plains of Abraham effectively ended French power in North America and was one of the most consequential battles in world history. Wolfe, mortally wounded during the assault, became an instant national hero in Britain — his death in the moment of victory inspiring countless paintings, poems, and medals. The most famous artistic depiction is Benjamin West's painting "The Death of General Wolfe" (1770). The medallic record of colonial America provides evidence that standard historical accounts sometimes overlook, documenting diplomatic encounters, treaty negotiations, and military engagements through the perspectives of the participating European powers. This bronze medal commemorates the young general whose sacrifice secured British dominion over Canada and reshaped the political geography of North America permanently.

Rarity Notes

Original 1759 bronze. James Wolfe is one of the most popular subjects in the Betts catalog. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-422; James Wolfe; Battle of the Plains of Abraham; Quebec 1759