(1766) Brass Medal Betts-517, William Pitt

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 XF45 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-517 in brass is a William Pitt medal from 1766, struck in the golden-toned alloy that was popular for commercial commemorative medals in the Georgian period. Brass Pitt medals were produced for the broadest market segment, affordable enough for ordinary colonists who wanted to display their admiration for the British statesman. The brass composition gives the medal a warm golden appearance that has aged attractively on surviving examples. William Pitt medals in brass were among the most widely distributed of all pre-Revolutionary commemoratives, sold in shops and at fairs throughout the American colonies. Betts-517 features its own die design, adding to the remarkable variety within the Pitt medal series. The commercial production of Pitt medals in multiple metals and designs demonstrates the existence of a substantial market for political commemorative merchandise in colonial America.

Rarity Notes

Brass Pitt medal, Betts-517 variety. Commercial production but scarce survivors. Popular colonial political commemorative.

Cross References

Betts-517; PCGS #528411