1781 Iron Medal Betts-579, Admiral Rodney

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 AU Details 11-21-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1781 iron medal (Betts-579) is an unusual metallic variant of the Admiral Rodney medal. Iron medals are rare in the Betts series, as iron was seldom used for commemorative pieces due to its susceptibility to rust and corrosion. The choice of iron may indicate a trial striking, a wartime expedient when other metals were scarce, or a deliberate artistic choice to produce a piece with a distinctive dark appearance. Admiral Rodney's Caribbean campaigns during the American Revolution, including the capture of St. Eustatius and the Battle of the Saintes, were among the most significant British naval achievements of the war. Colonial medals served multiple functions simultaneously: as propaganda tools promoting imperial policy, as diplomatic gifts establishing relationships with indigenous peoples and rival powers, and as commemorative art preserving historical memory. The iron composition makes this one of the most unusual metallic variants in the entire Betts catalog.

Rarity Notes

Iron medal. Extremely unusual metal for Betts medals. Very rare.

Cross References

Betts-579; Admiral Rodney; iron variant; Caribbean theater 1781