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

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,080 MS63 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-523 in silver is the premium version of the Earl of Chatham (William Pitt the Elder) memorial medal from 1778. Silver strikings honored the memory of the great statesman who had led Britain to victory in the Seven Years' War and then defended American colonial rights against parliamentary taxation. Pitt's death during a speech opposing the American war gave his passing a dramatic quality that enhanced his already legendary status. The silver medal preserves Pitt's portrait with the enhanced detail that precious metal provides, creating a fitting tribute to one of the most consequential British politicians of the eighteenth century. Silver Chatham memorial medals would have been produced for Pitt's political allies, family members, and wealthy admirers on both sides of the Atlantic who wished to honor his memory in the most prestigious manner available through the medallic arts.

Rarity Notes

Silver Earl of Chatham memorial medal. Premium composition. Scarce and sought by collectors of both British and American material.

Cross References

Betts-523; PCGS #889693