(1779) Silver Medal Betts-568, John Paul Jones Original Dies

Coin Details

Auction Record

$90,000 AU58 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-568 in silver from original dies is the most precious standard composition of the John Paul Jones Comitia Americana medal, struck in the metal originally authorized by the Continental Congress. Silver was the standard metal for Comitia Americana medals presented to the honorees themselves, and a silver Jones medal from original dies represents the closest possible connection to the original Congressional authorization. Augustin Dupre's dies, created in Paris under the supervision of Benjamin Franklin, are considered among the finest achievements of eighteenth-century medallic art. The obverse portrait captures Jones's determined features, while the reverse battle scene between Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis is a masterwork of narrative engraving. Silver original-die Jones medals are extraordinarily rare and represent the pinnacle of Revolutionary War numismatics, combining artistic excellence, military history, and precious metal in a single iconic object.

Rarity Notes

Silver from original dies. The ultimate John Paul Jones medal. Extremely rare. Among the most valuable American medals.

Cross References

Betts-568; PCGS #935307