(1776) Libertas Americana Medal - 1oz Palladium Paris Mint 2020 Restrike

Coin Details

Description

A modern palladium restrike of the Libertas Americana medal produced by the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) in 2020, struck in one troy ounce of palladium. This represents the most exotic metal format in the Paris Mint's 2020 Libertas Americana restrike program, extending the historic Dupre design into a precious metal that was undocumented in the eighteenth century and has only recently gained prominence in commemorative coinage and medals. The obverse reproduces Dupre's iconic Liberty portrait with flowing hair and liberty cap, inscribed LIBERTAS AMERICANA with the 4 JUIL. 1776 date below. The reverse presents the allegorical scene of the infant Hercules, Minerva, serpents, and British lion that constitutes one of the most powerful symbolic compositions in medal art. The palladium substrate gives the medal a distinctive bright, silvery-white appearance with a slightly warmer tone than silver, and a noticeably heavier feel for its size due to palladium's density of 12.02 grams per cubic centimeter. At 32.6 millimeters in diameter, the palladium restrike is significantly smaller than both the original medals (47.5mm) and the companion silver restrike (46.8mm), reflecting the high intrinsic value of palladium and the practical need to keep the one-ounce weight manageable at a smaller module. Despite the reduced size, the essential design elements remain clearly rendered, a testament to the quality of modern die reduction and striking technology at the Paris Mint. The palladium Libertas Americana restrike occupies a unique position at the intersection of numismatic history, precious metals investment, and modern commemorative production. Palladium's rarity and industrial value make it one of the more unusual substrates for medal production, and the limited mintage of this issue ensures it will remain a scarce modern collectible even as the original 1783 strikes continue to anchor the series as untouchable historical artifacts.

Rarity Notes

Very limited mintage modern restrike. Palladium restrikes were produced in smaller quantities than silver, making them the scarcer of the two 2020 Paris Mint formats.

Cross References

Betts-615 (original); Monnaie de Paris 2020 restrike program