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QUERY: FRANKLIN PARISIAN MASONIC LODGE MEDAL INFORMATION SOUGHTHoward A. Daniel III writes: One of my wife's American heroes is Ben Franklin. She collects books, prints, medals, etc. with him on or in them. I was looking through a recently closed Baldwin's Auction in London and I saw a foreign medal with Franklin on it that I had never seen before. I know there are many collectors like my wife who might want to know about this medal.
Here's an excerpt from the Baldwin's Sale 74 catalog. Can anyone help?
-Editor
United States of America. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), and the Parisian Masonic Lodge "Les Noef Soers", Copper Medalet, 1783, by Jean François Bernier, bust left, rev the nine Muses strive to build a temple, DE LEURS TRAVAUX - NAITRALEUR GLOIRE , plain edge, 30.5mm (Betts 618; Fuld FR.M.MA.2; Ford 14, 344 ($9000); BDM I, 175). Surface lightly rubbed, very fine and an exceptional rarity .
The Lodge, of the Grand Orient de France, was established in 1776 and became a considerable influence in the support of the American Revolution in France. Benjamin Franklin was Venerable Master in 1779, then was re-elected for the years 1780-1783. Other distinguished members included John Paul Jones, Voltaire, Jean-Antoine Houdon and, it is believed, Danton. In antiquity, the nine Muses, the daughters of Mnemosyne, were patrons of the arts and sciences. Ford had two specimens in silver and a single bronze specimen which "Mr Ford thought might be unique". £1200-1500
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