(1773) Medal Betts-524, Pitt and Howe

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,020 AU55 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-524 is a medal honoring William Pitt and Viscount Richard Howe, two British figures who supported the American colonial cause during the political crises of the 1770s. The combination of Pitt and Howe on a single medal reflects American admiration for British politicians and military men who advocated conciliation with the colonies rather than coercion. Pitt (the Elder) had championed colonial rights since the Stamp Act crisis, while Howe, a naval officer and member of Parliament, was known for sympathy toward the American position. The 1773 date places this medal during the escalating tensions that followed the Tea Act and preceded the outbreak of the Revolution. Medals celebrating pro-American British leaders document the colonial hope, sustained even as late as 1773, that sympathetic voices in London could resolve the imperial crisis without war. The medal's composition, not specified, was base metal for broad distribution.

Rarity Notes

Medal honoring pro-American British leaders. Important pre-Revolutionary political piece. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-524; PCGS #921198