1779 Medal Rhode Island - No Wreath Below Ship

Coin Details

Description

Distinguished by the absence of a wreath beneath the ship on its reverse, this 1779 Rhode Island Ship medal represents a specific die variety within one of the most debated series in early American numismatics. The Rhode Island Ship medals — also called the Vlugtende or "fleeing" ship tokens — depict a sailing vessel on the reverse accompanied by inscriptions referencing the year 1778-1779, while the obverse features an allegorical or symbolic design. The "No Wreath Below Ship" variety utilizes a different reverse die from the "wreath" varieties, and this die distinction serves as the primary diagnostic for attribution. Cataloged as PCGS #588 and cross-referenced as Whitman 8510, the type is classified as moderately scarce, indicating that while specimens do appear on the market with some regularity, they are not common enough to be readily available. Scholarly debate has surrounded the Rhode Island Ship medals since the nineteenth century — questions persist about whether they were struck in Europe (likely the Netherlands) or in America, whether they commemorated the British occupation and subsequent liberation of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, and whether "1779" refers to the year of striking or the year of the events depicted. The copper composition, plain edge, and approximately medal-sized format are consistent with European manufacturing practices of the period, and metallurgical analysis has suggested a Dutch origin for at least some specimens. Collectors evaluating this variety should confirm the absence of the wreath below the ship — the defining characteristic — and assess the overall sharpness of the ship's rigging detail and hull lines, which provide the primary grading focal points. The historical ambiguity surrounding these medals adds an element of scholarly intrigue that enhances their appeal to collectors who value numismatic puzzles alongside aesthetic qualities.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Whitman 8510