JACOB LIPSON SELECTIONS: AUGUST 20, 2023

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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 34, August 20, 2023, Article 26

Jacob Lipson recently posted these great Canadian coin and medal offerings. For more U.S., Canadian and world coins, tokens and medals, see his website at https://www.jacoblipsonrarecoins.com/inventory . -Editor

1814 George III Indian Peace Medal, Large Size in Silver With Original Hanger. AU. McLachlan-CCXCVIII, Leroux-838, Breton-19, Jamieson-24, Eimer-1061b, Adams 12.1. 76mm. 121.12g. Indian Peace (or Chief) medals are arguably the most important historical artifacts in the Canadian series. Peace medals were awarded by the French as early as 1693, and the gifting of medals to Indigenous chiefs continued to be implemented by the British and Canadian governments through at least the 1920s. IPMs served as important diplomatic objects representative of ties between the awarding government and the Indigenous group receiving it. With respect to the peace medals of George III, of which several types exist, John Adams (1999) writes, they must have been sponsored at the highest levels of His Majesty's government.

The present is an example of the largest-size 1814 peace medal. Again, according to Adams: During the War of 1812, there was no equivocation: Indians made up a material portion of British forces at almost all engagements. … By the time word got back to London on how the war was being fought, authorities designed the most substantial medal of the series and issued it in profusion. Although many of these medals were awarded (in three sizes: large, medium, small), it is likely that only 50 or so exist in this 76mm format. Adams' 1999 Census shows at least 17 of them permanently impounded in institutional collections.

Of the handful of large-size 1814 medals I have seen, this piece surely ranks among the most impressive for its originality. The surfaces show a few minor nicks and a trace of rub, but they are entirely natural and expected of a medal that would have been awarded. Blue, violet, and gold patina is old and eye-appealing. The original hanger is present at 12 o'clock.

It is my pleasure to offer this remarkable War of 1812 relic, the strongest evidence we have of the importance of Colonial-Indigenous relations during that period. It deserves a place of utmost importance in an advanced collection, private or public. CA$27,000.00

War of 1812 Upper Canada Preserved Medal, Leroux-866, Breton-57, McLachlan-CCLIX. "67" on Edge. Gem Mint State. Silver. 51mm. 67.08 grams. 67 stamped on edge. The Upper Canada Preserved medal celebrates the British victories over the Americans during the War of 1812 and was intended for distribution to those exhibiting extraordinary instances of personal courage and fidelity in defence of the Province. The medals were originally commissioned by the Loyal and Patriotic Society, with the dies cut by Thomas Wyon, Jr., chief engraver at the Royal Mint.

The original design, as here, was first rejected, with the directors of the Society arguing that the viewer should be looking upstream rather than downstream. In other words, the lion and beaver should be on the right side of the bank, not the left. That design, which was produced in 1814, was replaced in 1817 with a modified, slightly less elegant design with the suggested changes and the addition of names of places in the Niagara region. The reverse of that revised design (Leroux-866a) was also slightly different and featured the date 1815 at centre below FOR MERIT.

Although the desired changes had been made, once received the Society could not decide how to equitably distribute their limited supply of medals to all those deemed deserving. A resolution was passed in 1820 stating that the medals should sold as bullion and the funds directed toward other charitable endeavours. However, they remained in storage until 1840. At that time, they were defaced and sold for scrap.

The Upper Canada Preserved medals on the market today are all either restrikes or reproductions. Restrikes began to appear on the market in the 1870s. These are all with plain edges. According to Warren Baker, writing in his Canadian Tokens & Medals, List 21: Later restrikes in silver, with numbered edges were struck in a quantity of 100 for W.S. Coutts by Messrs Wyon. These were likely produced sometime around the centenary of the War of 1812, so 1912 to 1915.

The obverse depicts a bird's eye view of the Niagara region with a lion, representing Great Britain, and a beaver, representing Canada on the left side of the river bank with an eagle, representing the United States right. UPPER CANADA above and PRESERVED in the exergue. T. WYON JU. F. (Thomas Wyon Junior Fecit) appears at lower right. The reverse reads PRESENTED BY A GRATEFUL COUNTRY around and FOR MERIT within a central wreath of laurel. The edge is stamped 67. A die break occurs southeast of the lion, as on all silver examples seen, including those with and without the numbered edge. Condition is superb. Each side is completely original with natural shades of blue, violet, and golden-orange toning. CA$6,800.00

1690-Dated Quebec Liberated Paris Mint Restrike. Leroux-307, Breton-36, Betts-70. Copper. 41mm. 35.63 grams. Pointing hand and CUIVRE on edge, confirming a production date between June 1845 and October 1860. This is a gorgeous 19th-century restrike of the always-popular Kebeca Liberata medal. Deep chocolate-brown surfaces are super glossy with accents of blue and violet. Even better in hand than the pictures show.

Signed R below the bust, this appears to be one of the more challenging of the four or five different restrikes that exist. CA$500.00

Canada 1947 Maple Leaf 25 Cents. MS65+ PCGS. Beautifully toned and original. This Gem quarter is only fractionally shy of joining the finest examples at PCGS, where it serves as one of three plate coins. Eye appeal is terrific. CA$850.00

Canada 1911 Cent. MS66 Red and Brown NGC. This nearly flawless Premium Gem is toned in magnificent rainbow hues — a rarity among Canadian large cents. Boldly struck with full cartwheel lustre. The NGC Census shows seven 1911 cents in MS66 RB with only one MS67 RB finer (8/23). Eye appeal would be virtually impossible to improve upon. CA$975.00

To read the complete item description, see:
Canada 1911 Cent. MS66 Red and Brown NGC. (https://www.jacoblipsonrarecoins.com/inventory/canada-1911-cent-ms66-red-and-brown-ngc)