(1880-1898) Silver Medal Betts-69, Quebec Preserved

Coin Details

Description

This silver restrike of the Quebec Preserved medal (Betts-69) was produced at the Paris Mint during the 1880-98 restrike period. Unlike the bronze version (PCGS #613787), this silver striking was produced in considerably smaller numbers. Betts-69, commemorating the 1690 French defense of Quebec, is among the most historically important medals in the entire Betts catalog. The silver composition adds precious metal value to the numismatic and historical significance of the piece. The iconographic vocabulary of colonial medals drew heavily on classical mythology and allegory, with figures representing continents, rivers, virtues, and vices arranged in compositions that conveyed complex political messages. Governor Frontenac's defiant refusal to surrender Quebec to Sir William Phips became one of the most celebrated episodes in French Canadian history, and these medals served as permanent memorials to French martial prowess in the New World.

Rarity Notes

Paris Mint silver restrike, 1880-98 period. Silver version of Betts-69 is scarcer than bronze. Rare.

Cross References

Betts-69; Quebec Preserved; Kebeca Liberata; Frontenac 1690