(1778) Bronze Medal Betts-523, Earl of Chatham

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,320 MS64BN 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-523 in bronze commemorates the Earl of Chatham (William Pitt the Elder) in 1778, the year of his death. Pitt collapsed in the House of Lords on April 7, 1778, while making an impassioned speech about the American war, and died on May 11. His death shocked the political world on both sides of the Atlantic. In America, Pitt was mourned as the great British champion of colonial rights, the statesman who had fought the Stamp Act and defended American liberty in Parliament. This bronze memorial medal preserves Pitt's legacy at the moment of his passing, when the American Revolution he had tried to prevent was well underway. Memorial medals for Pitt were produced in both Britain and America, reflecting his unique status as a figure honored by both nations even as they fought each other. The bronze composition made this tribute accessible to the widest audience.

Rarity Notes

Bronze Earl of Chatham memorial medal. Important for both British and American history. Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Betts-523; PCGS #615033