Libertas Americana Medal Tribute – 2 oz Silver

Flowing-haired Liberty and a dramatic scene of protection and victory make the Libertas Americana one of the most expressive designs associated with American independence. This Intaglio Mint tribute presents its imagery in 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver, with a substantial 39mm format and a Brilliant Uncirculated finish.

Benjamin Franklin’s Medal of Independence

Benjamin Franklin conceived the original medal while serving as America’s minister to France. Created in 1783, it celebrated the victories at Saratoga in 1777 and Yorktown in 1781 while honoring France’s crucial support for American independence. The project brought together Franklin’s diplomatic purpose, the artistic contribution of Esprit-Antoine Gibelin, and the engraving of Augustin Dupré.

The title means “American Liberty.” Rather than presenting a battlefield literally, the medal tells its story through classical allegory: the infant Hercules represents the young United States, Minerva represents France, and the attacking lioness represents Britain. The result is both a declaration of independence and an acknowledgment that the new nation had not won alone.

Obverse Design

Liberty faces left, her hair streaming behind her. A liberty cap on a pole rises over her shoulder, while “LIBERTAS AMERICANA” curves around the upper field. Below the portrait, “4 JUIL. 1776.” records American Independence Day in French. The open field gives the flowing hair and profile room to stand out against the silver surface.

Reverse Design

A helmeted Minerva uses her shield to confront a lunging lioness as the infant Hercules grapples with two serpents below. The intertwined figures fill the field with movement, turning the alliance and struggle into a compact mythological scene. “NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS” follows the upper border.

The dates beneath the scene recall the British surrenders at Saratoga on October 17, 1777, and Yorktown on October 19, 1781. A small modern hallmark along the bottom identifies this tribute’s silver content. This is a contemporary silver medal tribute, distinct from an original eighteenth-century Libertas Americana.

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Purity: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39mm
• Thickness: Approximately 6mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

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