(1776) Gold Medal Libertas Americana 2004 Restrike

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,800 PR70DCAM 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

A gold (AV, from Latin aurum) restrike of the Libertas Americana medal produced by the Monnaie de Paris in 2004. Gold restrikes represent the pinnacle of the modern Libertas Americana restrike program, echoing the exceedingly rare original gold strikings that were reserved for the most important diplomatic presentations in the 1780s. When Benjamin Franklin commissioned Augustin Dupre to create the Libertas Americana medal in 1783, a small number were struck in gold for presentation to the French King, members of the royal family, and select dignitaries. These original gold strikings are among the most valuable American-related medals in existence. The 2004 Monnaie de Paris gold restrike allows collectors to own this iconic design in gold at a fraction of the original's multi-million-dollar value. The gold composition transforms Dupre's design, giving Liberty's flowing hair and the reverse allegory a warm, luminous quality impossible to achieve in base metals. The medal's obverse Liberty head is considered one of the finest portraits in 18th-century medal art, while the reverse allegory of infant Hercules protected by Minerva against the British lion was Franklin's own concept, drawn from classical mythology. Gold Libertas Americana restrikes are the rarest pieces in the modern restrike program. They are produced in very limited quantities and are sought by collectors of gold numismatic items and investors who appreciate the combination of artistic merit, historical significance, and intrinsic gold value.

Rarity Notes

Rare among restrikes. Gold versions are produced in very limited quantities and carry substantial precious-metal value.

Cross References

Betts-615 (original); Monnaie de Paris 2004 gold restrike