1782 Silver Medal Betts-602, American Independence

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,640 MS63 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1782 silver medal (Betts-602) commemorates American Independence, produced in the year that saw the culmination of the diplomatic recognition process. By 1782, the Netherlands had recognized American independence, and peace negotiations between Britain and America were underway in Paris. The medal celebrates the achievement of independence as an accomplished fact rather than an aspiration, reflecting the confidence of the American cause after the decisive victory at Yorktown in October 1781. Medals celebrating American independence were produced in several European countries, particularly the Netherlands and France, where support for the American cause was strongest. Many Betts medals exist in multiple metal compositions struck from the same dies, as mints typically produced gold or silver presentations for dignitaries alongside bronze or copper versions for wider distribution. The silver composition indicates production for officials and collectors.

Rarity Notes

Original 1782 silver. American Independence theme. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-602; American Independence 1782; diplomatic recognition