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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;johnmilton, post: 3736682, member: 101855&quot;]Recently there has been some talk about the Continental Dollar, which now appears not be a dollar at all, but a small medal that commemorated the end of the American Revolutionary War. I mentioned the Libertas Americana medal as a less expensive (but it’s not cheap) alternative to the Continental Dollar. Here is an example that I have owned for many years.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1002057[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1002058[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The Libertas Americana medal was Benjamin Franklin’s private project that commemorated the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Revolutionary War. Since the medal was struck at the time and in the city where the treaty was signed it would have been a popular collectors’ item in any case. The piece gained added significance for coin collectors because it was the inspiration for the Liberty Cap design that appeared on some early United States cents and half-cents.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The obverse features a goddess of liberty, facing left. A Phrygian cap, symbolic of liberty, suspended on a pole is behind her head. The words “LIBERTAS AMERECANA” (American Liberty) is above the goddess’ head and “4 JULY 1776” below.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The reverse features the goddess Minerva (France) holding off a lion (England) while the infant Hercules (America) slays two snakes. The snakes are symbolic of the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown with the dates of those two battles below, “October 17, 1777” and “October 19, 1781.” The English translation of the Latin phrase at the top of the design is &quot;The courageous child is not without the aid of the gods.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This medal has been become incredibly popular. It is not only an artistic masterpiece but also of great historic significance. The original gold copies were award to King Louis XVI and queen, Marie Antoinette. Both pieces were lost during the French Revolution. Thirty to 35 pieces are known in silver, and 100 to 125 pieces are known in bronze. The silver pieces sell for 6 figures in nice condition and the bronze pieces sell for low 5 figures.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; The French Mint has made copies of the Libertas Americana medal in bronze, silver and gold. Experienced collectors can easily distinguish these new pieces from the original medals.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some addition notes on the design details:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1002070[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>France is represented by the goddess Minerva (the goddess of wisdom and war) who is holding off the British lioness.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1002071[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The infant Hercules is America who is slaying two snakes, which is symbolic of the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. Saratoga marked the turning point of the war in the opinion of historians. Yorktown was the ultimate British defeat, although it took them almost two years before they decided to formally sign a treaty.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1002072[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The lioness represents England with her tail symbolically between her legs.</p><p><br /></p><p>The depiction of Ms. Liberty on the obverse was the inspiration for the Pole to Cap design that appeared on the early U.S. half cents and large cents. Those who collect early U.S. copper coins have long been drawn to this medal.</p><p><br /></p><p>The 1793 Half Cent design is closest the Libertas Americana design.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1002077[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The Ms. Liberty on the early large cents faced right instead of left.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1002080[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>As I said earlier, these medal is not cheap. A nice one will cost $12 to $14 thousand. Silver pieces sell for over $100 thousand. I think that it is more attractive in bronze.</p><p><br /></p><p>The French Mint has made modern copies that are considerably cheaper. A few years ago the bronze cost less than $100, but I have not priced them recently.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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