Medals related to the U.S. Independence War

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Jones in uniform, facing right. Around, JOANNI  PAVLO JONES / CLASSIS PRAEFECTO. / COMITIA AMERICANA.; signed under truncation, DUPRE. F.

The reverse bears smoking Bonhomme Richard, holed and with broken mast, facing left, in front of the foremast and bowsprit of Serapis; fighting sailors and rubbish are visible in the water and Alliance resides in the background. Around, HOSTIVM NAVIBVS - CAPTIS AVT FVGATIS.; in exergue, AD ORAM SCOTIAE XXIII SEPT. / M.DCCLXXVIIII · / DUPRE. F.

The Battle of Flamborough Head was a naval battle that took place on 23 September 1779 in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire between a combined Franco-American squadron, led by Continental Navy officer John Paul Jones, and two British escort vessels protecting a large merchant convoy. It became one of the most celebrated naval actions of the war, despite its relatively small size and considerable dispute over what had actually occurred.  Regardless, the myth of the battle is as important or maybe even more important than the actual battle.

Jones commanded a small squadron from the ship Bonhomme Richard, a converted India Trader.  When they ran into a large Baltic trade convoy under the protection of the HMS Seraphis and the hired vessel Countess of Scarborough,

Jones decided to attack.  With his ship outgunned and outclassed, he strove to equalize the odds by locking the ships together and engaging in close quarters combat.  With Jones' ship burning and sinking beneath him and most of his crew killed, so the story has it, Jones rejected requests for surrender by shouting "I have not yet begun to fight!" and "I may sink but I'll be damned if I strike!" 

When a lucky grenade caused a chain reaction of explosions on the British vessel, the USS Alliance finally joined the fight and the Seraphis surrendered.

The battle, while strategically unimportant, had a huge effect on the morale of the American and French Navies. The seemingly invincible British navy could be defeated in messy, gutsy battle.

As all Comitia Americana medals, there are numerous restrikes, both by the French Mint and the U.S. Mint, and I am not a specialist in this area of numismatics. Maybe a reader can help out with a guide on how to distinguish originals from later copies.

This medal's obverse bears bust of George Washington, facing right. Around, GEORGE - WASHINGTON; signed on truncation, GHL

The reverse bears seals of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts surrounded by wreath. Around, TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENNIAL OF THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON / AT BENNINGTON. VT. / AUG. 16 / 1877 /  ISSUED BY THE VT. NUMISMATIC SOCIETY / 1878; within wreath, over their respective seals, VT., N.H., MASS.; AUG. - 16 / 1777

The Battle of Bennington was fought on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles (16 km) from its namesake Bennington, Vermont. A rebel force of 2,000 men, primarily composed of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark, and reinforced by Vermont militiamen led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne's army led by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum, and supported by additional men under Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich von Breymann.

The battle was a major strategic success for the American cause; it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Indian support to largely abandon him, and deprived him of much-needed supplies, such as mounts for his cavalry regiments, draft animals and provisions; all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual defeat at Saratoga. The victory galvanized colonial support for the independence movement, and played a key role in bringing France into the war on the rebel side. The battle's anniversary is celebrated in the state of Vermont as Bennington Battle Day.

This medal appears to be quite rare because I cannot find any documentation about it.  Issued by the Vermont Numismatic Society in its first official year of existence, I believe it to have been one of a set of two medals that shared the same reverse and both commemorated the Battle of Bennington Centennial. The other medal bears General Stark, the New Hampshire Revolutionary War hero, on the obverse.

Maybe a so-called dollar specialist or someone with more experience can provide more information about this handsome little medal.

The circular medal measures 40mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   ANS 45, Baxter 349, MACo 1925-027, Marqusee 159

The medal's obverse bears view of Connecticut building at the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia.Around top, CONNECTICUT STATE BUILDING; in exergue, SESQUI-CENTENNIAL / PHILADELPHIA / 1776 (bell) 1926

The reverse bears statue of Nathan Hale at left, decorated shield with Connecticut coat of arms at top right. Across, "I ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE / BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR / MY COUNTRY" / NATHAN HALE / PATRIOT-MARTYR / CONNECTICUT / 1755 / 1776; at left edge,in tiny letters, WHITEHEAD-HOAG

Nathan Hale (1755-1776) was an American soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured by the British and executed. Hale has long been considered an American hero and, in 1985, he was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut.

The circular medal measures 28.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and sterling silver by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey.  No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to the staff of the Yale University Art Gallery's Numismatics Department for their support and assistance in making this medal available to me for research.

References:   HK 456

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Tadeusz Kosciuszko facing right. Around, TADEUSZ - KOSCIUSZKO; signed and dated at left shoulder, S+KO / N.Y. 26

The reverse bears Polish eagle over crossed halberds in wreath of grain and oak. Around, "HE WAS AS PURE A SON OF LIBERTY AS I HAVE EVER KNOWN AND OF THAT LIBERTY WHICH IS TO GO TO ALL, / AND NOT TO THE FEW OR / TO THE RICH ALONE / (TH JEFFERSON); in four sectors created by crossed halberds, POLAND / RACŁAWICE; AMERICA / SARATOGA; MACIEJOWICE / POLAND; AMERICA / WEST POINT; at bottom of wreath, 1746 1946 / BICENTENARY OF BIRTH; signed at grips of halberds, J.S. and S+KO

Kościuszko (Andrew Thaddeus Bonaventure Kosciuszko; 1746 –1817) was a Polish-Lithuanian military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States.

He fought in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's struggles against Russia and Prussia, and on the American side in the American Revolutionary War. As Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces, he led the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising.

In 1776, Kościuszko moved to North America, where he took part in the American Revolutionary War as a colonel in the Continental Army. An accomplished military architect, he designed and oversaw the construction of state-of-the-art fortifications, including those at West Point, New York. In 1783, in recognition of his services, the Continental Congress promoted him to brigadier general.

The medal's obverse is based on an earlier 1926 portrait done by the artist and is dated accordingly. If I interpret the J.S. on the reverse correctly, Ostrowsky might have ccoperated with another sculptor on that part of the medal, maybe with J. R. Sinnock, who signed another medal with a J.S. monogram in 1946.

The circular medal measures 63.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1946-012

The medal's obverse bears portrait of John Paul Jones, facing left; ship under full sail to his right. Around, · THE · HALL · OF · FAME · FOR · GREAT · AMERICANS AT NEW · YORK · UNIVERSITY · ; thirteen stars underneath; across left, JOHN / PAUL / JONES / 1747 / 1792; signed and dated at bottom, (ML monogram) 1968 ©

The reverse bears Jones holding cutlass on deck of sinking ship, three boarders swinging from rigging to his right.

This medal is the 53rd issue of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University medal series.

The medal was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  The bronze variants exist in large 76.7mm and small 44mm diameters, the silver variant only in the small diameter. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1963-001-053, GANYU 53

The medal's obverse bears Americans from colonial to modern times walking, riding, and driving around the circumference, with some airplanes mixed in for good measure. In raised circular center, the American Bicentennial logo surrounded by AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL / 1776 - 1976; signed with artist's (JOV monogram) at top right; at lower right, MACO / © 1975

The reverse bears square calendar panel in center, flanked by the PHiladelphia Christ Church steeple on the left and a launching Saturn V rocket on the right; Eagle holding streamer with THE / BICENTENNIAL / YEAR in its beak on top, Paul Revere on horseback at the bottom; at left bottom of calendar panel, 1976.

The American Bicentennial was a huge marketing extravaganza that caused a multitude of medals to be issued.   Marcel Jovine created a thematically appropripate design in his inimitable circular style. 

This is one of the few Calendar medals that were issued in different sizes.  A limited edition 3.75" medallion was offered to collectors in addtion to the normal 3" medal.  I am not aware of any medals in silver though I would not be terribly surprised to find out that a few had been struck.  The 1970s were a time of sky-high silver prices and 3" silver medals would have represented a significant investment.

References:   MACo 1975-134, Cal MA-1976

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Sybil Ludington, half-right, next to equestrian statue by Anna Hyatt Huntington. Around, SYBIL LUDINGTON; in exergue, DANBURY STATUE / BY ANNA HYATT / HUNTINGTON; signed at bottom, TR

The reverse bears two laurel branches. Across, COMMEMORATING / DANBURY / COIN CLUB / 20th / ANNIVERSARY / OCTOBER 1957

The Danbury Coin Club was founded at 8:00 pm on Thursday October 24, 1957. Sixteen people responded to an advertisement in the Danbury News Times calling an open meeting for anyone interested in forming a local coin club in Danbury, Connecticut.

Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) was a heroine of the American Revolution. On the night of April 26, 1777, at the age of 16, she rode to alert militia forces in villages of Putnam County, New York and Danbury, Connecticut, to the approach of the British regular forces. The ride was similar to those performed by William Dawes and Paul Revere, and Jack Jouett. Ludington rode more than twice the distance of Revere and was much younger than the men.

The circular medal measures 38.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 38