Newly Discovered 1801 Emancipator of America Medal - Third Known Example - to Appear in Heritage Long Beach Auction

Aug 28, 2007 Coins

Dallas, TX: An extremely rare medal minted circa 1801 will be sold in Heritage's 61st Official September Long Beach Signature Auction. The special Tokens and Medals auction will be held September 28-29 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

"Heritage is especially excited about this important discovery," noted Heritage President Greg Rohan. "The 1801 Emancipator of America medal, Baker-83, is rarity-ranked as a low R.8. For decades, numismatic researchers have known of only two examples of the medal, which was struck circa 1801. The first of those resides permanently in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the second was sold in 2004 in the John J. Ford, Jr. sale. This previously unreported third piece was purchased through a private transaction with a numismatic firm in London, and has been impounded in the same collection since 1957. Once the Ford example was sold, collectors had virtually no hopes of obtaining one."

Russell Rulau and George Fuld described this issue in their Medallic Portraits of Washington (1999); their illustration, the holed and gilt example from the John J. Ford Collection, still realized $11,500 in 2004. The obverse features a right-facing bust of GEORGE WASHINGTON, while on the reverse the Angel of Fame, blowing her trumpet, flies above an olive and oak wreath containing EMANCIPATOR OF AMERICA.

"The bronze example Heritage will be offering," concluded Rohan, "is the nicest available, and is likely the finest known. The plain edged medal, 44 mm in diameter, has been certified as AU53 by NGC, and has attractive surfaces with exceptional dark-chocolate-brown coloration. It may be decades before collectors can enjoy an opportunity like this again."

In addition to the Tokens and Medals auction, Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction catalogs will feature U.S. Coins, Currency, and World Coins and Ancients.

Circa 1801 Emancipator of America Medal, AU53 NGC

For more information about Heritage's auctions, please visit www.HA.com. Individual prices realized, lot descriptions, and full color images can be viewed in the Permanent Auction Archives at HA.com.

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