(1783) Medal Libertas Americana Rev Cliche Betts-615 White Metal "INTANS"

Coin Details

Description

A white metal uniface reverse cliche of the Libertas Americana medal, notable for bearing the misspelling "INTANS" instead of the correct "INFANS" in the reverse legend NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS. A cliche is a thin, uniface impression taken from a die, typically produced for trial or record-keeping purposes rather than as a finished product. This piece preserves only the reverse design — the infant Hercules strangling two serpents under the protection of Minerva — without the obverse Liberty portrait. The misspelling "INTANS" (missing the F) indicates this impression was taken from a die in a preliminary or experimental state, before the error was caught and corrected. Alternatively, it may represent a deliberately altered copy die rather than Dupre's original Paris Mint die. The use of white metal (a tin-lead alloy) rather than bronze or silver further distinguishes this as a trial or souvenir piece rather than an official striking. The reverse design shows the infant Hercules (representing the young United States) grappling with serpents symbolizing the British armies surrendered at Saratoga and Yorktown. Minerva, personifying France, interposes her fleur-de-lis shield between the infant and the attacking British lion. This powerful allegory of Franco-American alliance was the conceptual core of Franklin's medal, diplomatically acknowledging that American independence required French military intervention. Cliches and trial impressions from important dies occupy a specialized niche in numismatic collecting. This piece is of particular interest because the "INTANS" error provides evidence about the die-making process — whether it represents Dupre's initial work or a later copyist's mistake. Such production artifacts illuminate the behind-the-scenes creation of what became one of the most celebrated medals in American history.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Uniface cliches from the Libertas Americana dies are extremely scarce, and this INTANS misspelling variant is a notable production artifact.

Cross References

Betts-615 (related); Loubat 12 (related)