1779 Bronze Medal Betts-565, Stoney Point

Coin Details

Auction Record

$14,400 XF Details 11-21-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1779 bronze medal (Betts-565) commemorates the American assault on Stony Point, New York, on July 16, 1779. Brigadier General Anthony Wayne led a daring nighttime bayonet attack on the fortified British position at Stony Point on the Hudson River, capturing the garrison in one of the most celebrated feats of arms of the Revolution. Wayne's soldiers attacked with unloaded muskets, relying entirely on the bayonet to prevent accidental discharges that would alert the defenders. The assault captured over 500 British prisoners and boosted American morale during a difficult period of the war. European medallic art of this era served as an official record of imperial achievements, with court-appointed medalists crafting pieces that communicated territorial claims and military victories to educated audiences across the continent. Wayne earned the nickname "Mad Anthony" for his boldness, though his tactical planning was anything but reckless.

Rarity Notes

Original 1779 bronze. Stony Point assault. Important American Revolutionary victory. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-565; Stony Point 1779; Anthony Wayne; Hudson River campaign