COMITIA AMERICANA

During the Covid 19 quarantine I was looking around for something new to research, study, and collect. For some reason I hit on the Comitia Americana series, and in particular the Washington Before Medal and the Diplomatic Medal. I made one acquisition of a PCGS medal and have a number of others in at PCGS for grading.


So far I am finding this to be a fascinating journey and I now need to collect with others who collect these medals and have some knowledge to share.

 

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@Hawkeye

Perhaps @johnmilton can help you! ~ Chris

 

My latest acquisition in this area

 

The same reverse design appears on HK131 (one of the more common and inexpensive so- called dollars:

http://www.so-calleddollar.com/scd/evacuation-of-boston-125th-anniversary/

 

True and probably with just enough changes to not be a "copy."

I am also finding it on a number of anniversary and unofficial tokens. The obverse and reverse both seem to show up repeatedly, so well done and popular.

 

HISTORY IN YOUR HANDS?

In spades!

This one isn't perfect, but it's original.

 

lovely colouring on this coin

 

Great medal and as I understand the JPJ is somewhat rare. I am reading the "COMITA AMERICANA" book by Adams and Bentley and it is well researched and interesting reading. I just passed this medal in the reading and like all the others it has a nice history. Reading about the Founding Fathers and their activities during and after the revolution brings a lot of this to life and makes them a little more human.

You picked up one that is a great one to have in any collection.

 

Thanks, these medals have a surprising range of color as far as I am concerned.

 

The Daniel Morgan Medal is generally thought to be the most beautiful. It was designed and executed by Augustin Dupre, who also did the Libertas Americana Medal.

The original gold medal that was awarded to Morgan was stolen and lost. The family asked for a replacement. Since the original dies were no longer available, the silver piece that is in the Massachusetts Historical Society set was sent to Paris where copy dies were made. The gold medal plus some pieces in bronze were made there and shipped to America. This is one of the Paris "restrikes" which was made in the late 1830s.



This one was struck at the Philadelphia Mint from the same die pair, circa 1860.



The reason that I have two is these medals is that I saw the Philadelphia Mint piece at an Early American Coppers convention many years ago. It was offered to be at "a price I couldn't refuse."

 

A fortunate find for sure. For years I drove past the Cowpens exit on I-85 on my way to Charleston and had no read idea of the significance until I started reading a little more about the history of the medals. For sure Cowpens was pivotal and the medals commemorate a significant event in our history.

 

A recent pickup and I plan to send to PCGS in the next few days

 

Just got this one back from PCGS and ties the best braded at SP67



This one graded a little lower at SP64, but still a good grade for the series



One strange thing about this medal is that all the TPG's seem to think the Great Seal is the reverse when in fact it is the obverse.

 

I would not sent that piece in to PCGS for their certification. It is a waste of money in my opinion. That medal is a “yellow bronze” modern example that has limited value.

 

You are right except that I am working on a certified grading set. Otherwise I would have left it out of a holder. I have another that is almost worthless (pewter) that I will send in just to get it in a holder. It is a consistency issue not a practical money issue.

 

However I did pick this one up and it just arrived by UPS. This one was worth the time since I bought it certified as PF69.


It is the kilo size in the set as you can see from the certificate.

 

You don't need to get this material certified, especially if you buying modern “restrikes” which are really copies because they are not struck with the original dies.

I have all of the Comitia Americana medals in formats that were struck before 1880s, except for the original Diplomatic medal, which is nearly impossible to obtain and the John Stuart medal which is, for all intents and purposes, impossible. I don't view the Diplomatic medal as an essential part of the set, which one reason why I have never bought one of the Philadelphia Mint made pieces made circa 1850.

The main advantage to getting them certified is that you can avoid physical damage such as dropping them and giving them rim bumps or scratches. The big disadvantage is that the holders huge and take up incredible amounts of space in storage places, like a safe deposit box. I wish that PCGS and NGC could find a way to make a smaller holder. As a collector, I have generally avoided the certified pieces when I could for that reason.

If I were you, I would purchase this set with the booklet by Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli. The medals, which are cheap pewter knock-offs, don't amount to much, but they will give you the "lay of land" which might inspire you to get more into the set. This set was issued by the mint during the 1975-6 Bicentennial period.

Cover



Interior

 

I actually have that set. We all collect what we appreciate, and I have discovered over the years present them as we think best fits the situation. I am primarily working on a Washington Before Boston set and will either purchase certified pieces or have them certified. I have a keen appreciation for the history and story behind coins and medals, and for me certification preserves them in the best possible condition. I also think with the WBB medals there is enough confusion between the Paris and US strikes and classifications that having a certified set locks in the identification. I know enough to believe you will need to "guide" (not deceive) the TPG's in the identification because this is often outside their expertise.

If you look at my web sites for Morgans and Stone Mountain Half there are lots of certified coins that would make no sense to spend the money on if they were not part of a certified set. If I sold them I would lose money for sure, but minor money with respect to my collection and I think worth the time and effort to further the hobby. I want kids (and adults) to pick them up, study them, look at them, but not damage them.

Just my way of looking at it.

 

This one showed up today from PCGS listed as a 600362 - (1776) Medal J-CM-15b Bronze 67mm U.S. Diplomatic Medal Restrike. Graded SP64
​

 

Latest acquisition and obviously a modern restrike by the Paris Mint. I purchased this one so that I can illustrate and appreciate what the original medal would have looked like when struck in silver.