"1777" (ca. 1885) General Horatio Gates at Saratoga Medal. Original

"1777" (ca. 1885) General Horatio Gates at Saratoga Medal. Original Obverse, U.S. Mint Copy Reverse. Betts-557, Julian MI-2. Copper, Bronzed. MS-67 BN (NGC). 55.7 mm. Beautiful autumn-orange brown fields contrast with somewhat darker reddish-copper and mahogany devices. Impressively preserved with premium eye appeal and no problems of note. This variety, a product of the Philadelphia Mint, was struck from the original Paris obverse die and a replacement reverse die accomplished by William Barber after 1885. The new reverse may be discerned by the more modern typeface of the legends and its lack of a die flaw near 3 o'clock. According to the cataloger of the NASCA Kessler-Spangenberger sale, one of the most important reference catalogs for American medals, only 76 specimens were struck in copper from these dies. Survivors remain important and sought-after rarities in the Mint medal and Comitia Americana series. Provenance: From the Henry Mitchell Collection. Earlier ex NASCA's sale of July 1981, lot 37; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part III May 2001, lot 1064; John Kraljevich, April 2009. Click here for certification details from NGC.

Estimate:$1

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