Sons of Liberty Tree – 2 oz Silver Round
A kneeling colonial figure and a tree encircled by a rattlesnake bring Revolutionary-era symbolism to this 2 troy ounce .999 fine silver round. The 39 mm Sons of Liberty design joins a detailed human scene with the image of a gathering place that became a political emblem.
How an Elm Became Liberty Tree
Boston’s Liberty Tree gained its name amid resistance to the Stamp Act in 1765. On August 14, protesters displayed effigies from a large elm at Essex and Orange Streets. The National Park Service traces the action to organizing by the Loyal Nine and a crowd led by shoemaker Ebenezer McIntosh.
The tree became a meeting place associated with the Sons of Liberty, serving as a setting for protest and celebration. The Massachusetts Historical Society preserves records of these gatherings and their anniversaries. Its importance came from the people who assembled around it: an ordinary urban tree became a widely recognizable symbol of colonial resistance.
Obverse Design
A colonial figure kneels with a musket held across the body, an early American flag flowing behind him. “Sons of Liberty” curves above the scene. Clothing folds, the musket, and the rocky ground give the composition texture. The figure is a symbolic representation of the era rather than an identified portrait of a particular organizer.
Reverse Design
A leafy Liberty Tree stands against radiating lines and stars, with a rattlesnake coiled around its trunk. A banner reading “DEFENDING THE TREE OF LIBERTY” stretches across the lower design over muskets at the sides. The hallmark is divided between the right and left fields. Together, the tree and snake create a dense arrangement of historical symbols rather than a literal illustration of the Boston protest.
Specifications
- Weight: 2.00 troy ounces
- Metal: .999 fine silver
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Thickness: approximately 6 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
© Copyright 2018 – Intaglio Industries, Inc.
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