1779 Medal Rhode Island - No Wreath Below Ship Pewter

Coin Details

Description

Distinguished from its companion variety by the absence of the decorative wreath beneath the ship on the obverse, this pewter Rhode Island Ship medal represents a separate die state or die combination in the series. Measuring 32 mm with a plain edge, it was struck in pewter as part of the Dutch-produced commemorative medals honoring the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. The "No Wreath" distinction is a critical attribution point: the presence or absence of the wreath below the ship divides the entire Rhode Island Ship medal series into two major obverse die families, each with its own hierarchy of metal compositions and die marriages. Cataloged as Whitman 8520 and PCGS #586, this pewter example is classified as rare, consistent with the generally low survival rates of pewter medals from the Revolutionary era. The obverse shows a sailing ship — representing the British fleet retreating from Narragansett Bay — while the reverse maps the Rhode Island coastline and bay area where American and French forces coordinated operations against the British garrison at Newport. This medal belongs to the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820) series and is part of a broader group of Betts-listed Revolutionary War medals that document European interest in the American struggle for independence, struck primarily for the Dutch and French markets where public sympathy for the American cause was particularly strong.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Pewter composition.

Cross References

Whitman 8520