"1776" (ca. 1807) Benjamin Franklin American Beaver Medal. Betts-546

"1776" (ca. 1807) Benjamin Franklin American Beaver Medal. Betts-546, Julian CM-8, Greenslet GM-80. Bronze. MS-63 (PCGS). 40.2 mm. Lustrous light brown and gold over subtly reflective surfaces. This piece was struck early in the life of this issue and boasts a much different look than the later strikes from these dies that exhibit heavy mahogany bronzing. The detail on both sides is superb, and no serious flaws are noted. Magnified scrutiny finds some trivial hairlines and a bit of harmless encrustation within the leaves of the tree, but the eye appeal is excellent. Influential Philadelphian Joseph Sansom conceived this medal along with three others as a series celebrating the History of the American Revolution, struck at the U.S. Mint between 1805 and 1808. Of the four medals struck in the series, this was the third medal completed and seems to have been struck in the autumn of 1807. Newspaper advertisements first announced its production in December 1807, namechecking George Clymer and Dr. Benjamin Rush, who received specimens as surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence living in Philadelphia. The reverse design is described as "the American Beaver nibbling at the Overshadowing Oak of the British Power on the Western Continent" in a newspaper piece that appeared in Philadelphia on December 1 and Annapolis on December 10. Another advertisement, of December 14, 1807, gives the brief explanatory description including "upon the Declaration of Independence," which could certainly have been the intent of the beaver just beginning to gnaw at the tree. The beaver would ultimately succeed, but at the time of the signing of the Declaration, there was still a long road ahead. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.

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