1814 Bronze Medal J-NA-8, Battle of Lake Champlain

Coin Details

Description

The 1814 bronze naval medal cataloged as Julian NA-8 commemorates the Battle of Lake Champlain rather than honoring a specific individual commander. This medal focuses on the engagement itself — the decisive naval action on September 11, 1814 that destroyed the British squadron and forced the withdrawal of a 10,000-man British invasion force under Sir George Prevost. The obverse features imagery related to the battle or the naval forces involved. The reverse carries commemorative inscriptions and imagery. The distinction between this battle medal (NA-8) and Macdonough's personal medal (NA-15) reflects the Mint's practice of producing both individual commander medals and engagement-specific commemoratives. The Battle of Lake Champlain involved four American vessels — the corvette Saratoga, brig Eagle, schooner Ticonderoga, and sloop Preble — plus ten gunboats against a British squadron of similar size under Captain George Downie, who was killed early in the engagement. The American victory was complete, with every major British vessel captured or destroyed. This bronze duplicate was produced for public distribution.

Rarity Notes

Bronze duplicates produced in moderate quantities. The battle focus rather than individual commander focus makes this a distinct collecting piece from the Macdonough personal medal.

Cross References

Julian NA-8; PCGS #886541