WYATT COPY OF MAJOR ANDRE MEDAL OFFERED

 

(Ca. 1848) cast copy of the Capture of Andre Medal. As Betts-576. Copper over lead, 60.0 x 42.2 mm. Extremely Fine.

A 19th century copy, produced by Thomas Wyatt as part of the series of copy medals produced to accompany his 1848 book Memoirs of the Generals, Commodores, And Other Commanders: Who Distinguished Themselves in the American Army and Navy during the Wars of the Revolution and 1812, And Who Were Presented with Medals by Congress, For Their Gallant Services. While the best known made-from-whole-cloth copy from Wyatt's project was the "mystery dies" Henry Lee medal, the set also included this replica of the first medal ordered by Congress to have actually been created and presented: the Capture of Andre or "Fidelity" medal awarded to John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart.

Two of the three original medals, handcrafted in silver, struck in repousse and then hand-engraved, survived into the late 20th century. The New-York Historical Society had both Paulding's and Williams' medals (the latter of which was illustrated in the New-York Historical Society Quarterly Bulletin of July 1923) until they were stolen, along with John Andre's watch, from a locked case in June 1975. A faithful silver plated copy of the Paulding medal has been in the ANS collection since 1945, with a fully engraved presentation inscription on the reverse, a contrast with the simple engraved monograph on the reverse of the Williams specimen. The Van Wart medal has not been traced into modern times.

While the editors of Betts, in the footnote on page 267, relate that far more than three were made because a Charles Pryor showed one to the ANS in 1891, "one was in the Vattemare Collection, and others are known," it's almost certain that these other pieces were Wyatt copies like this or other sorts of replicas. The two known to have survived into modern times both remained with descendants into the 20th century. Like Wyatt's Lee medal, this appears to have been copied from one of the many printed engravings of the medals that were published in the early 19th century, as the common engraving shows a blank space on the reverse, as seen here, while the originals were uniquely engraved.

This is a nicer example of this copy than most seen, and it appears to be an "original" copy rather than one of the cruder aftercasts we have encountered. Some lead shows through at the edge and a few high points, but the surfaces are otherwise choice in appearance and retain a nice chocolate brown tone.

The occasion of Maj. John Andre's capture and conviction was so important to the American cause that Congress not only authorized and produced these medals for the three men involved - a full decade before any Comitia Americana medal was actually awarded - but George Washington himself presented the medals to each of the three men. Andre was hanged in Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780. His mortal remains now rest beneath a majestic memorial at Westminster Abbey.

To read the complete lot description, see:
(Ca. 1848) cast copy of the Capture of Andre Medal. As Betts-576. Copper over lead, 60.0 x 42.2 mm. Extremely Fine. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1621P6/ca-1848-cast-copy-of-the-capture-of-andre-medal-as-betts-576-copper-over-lead-600-x-422-mm-extremely-fine)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MUSEUM ACQUIRES VINCIT AMOR PATRIAE MEDAL (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n30a12.html)

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