(1801) Tin Medal Betts-557, Gates at Saratoga

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,200 SP62 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This circa 1801 tin (Sn) medal reproduces the Horatio Gates at Saratoga design (Betts-557), one of the Comitia Americana series. The tin composition identifies this as a later reproduction intended for wider distribution, as tin was an inexpensive metal suitable for producing affordable copies of prestigious medal designs. By 1801, the American Revolution had passed from current events into national mythology, and demand existed for commemorative pieces that ordinary citizens could afford. The Gates medal commemorating the decisive American victory at Saratoga on October 17, 1777 was a natural choice for popular reproduction. Tin medals of this era are often found in lower grades than their bronze or silver counterparts due to the metal's susceptibility to tin pest — a crystalline degradation that can destroy the piece.

Rarity Notes

Circa 1801 tin composition. Tin medals are vulnerable to degradation; surviving examples in good condition are scarce.

Cross References

Betts-557; Horatio Gates; Battle of Saratoga 1777; Comitia Americana; tin medal