1783 Silver Medal Betts-612, Rev, St. Michael

Coin Details

Auction Record

$600 AU Details 08-23-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1783 silver medal (Betts-612 reverse variant) features St. Michael on the reverse, a religious and artistic motif common in European medal design. St. Michael, the archangel who defeated Satan, was a symbol of divine justice and the triumph of good over evil — imagery that lent itself to celebration of the peace that ended the Revolutionary War. The reverse variant designation indicates this uses a different reverse die from the standard Betts-612, creating a distinct variety for collectors. The pairing of a Treaty of Versailles obverse with a St. Medallic commemoration of colonial events was not limited to military victories — treaties, explorations, trading company foundings, missionary activities, and colonial administrative milestones all received medallic recognition. Michael reverse connects the temporal achievement of peace with its spiritual dimension, reflecting the deeply religious worldview that still permeated eighteenth-century European medallic art.

Rarity Notes

Original 1783 silver. Betts-612 reverse variant with St. Michael. Rare.

Cross References

Betts-612 Rev; Treaty of Versailles reverse variant; St. Michael 1783