1783 Bronze Medal Betts-612, Treaty of Versailles

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,440 MS63BN 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1783 bronze medal (Betts-612) commemorates the Treaty of Versailles, one of the peace agreements that ended the American Revolutionary War. The Treaty of Versailles (September 3, 1783) was the broader European settlement, while the Treaty of Paris (same date) specifically ended hostilities between Britain and the United States. The Versailles treaty addressed the claims of France, Spain, and the Netherlands against Britain. The bronze composition indicates production for widespread distribution to celebrate the peace that concluded nearly a decade of global warfare. The quality of die engraving on the finest Betts medals rivals the best European artistic production of their respective periods, with master medalists achieving remarkable detail in portraits, landscapes, and battle scenes. The 1783 peace established the United States as an independent nation, returned territories to France and Spain, and restructured the colonial balance of power in the Americas and worldwide.

Rarity Notes

Original 1783 bronze. Treaty of Versailles / end of Revolution. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-612; Treaty of Versailles 1783; end of American Revolution