The First Medals of America

People interested in coin collecting, medal collecting, and American Revolutionary history will enjoy this read. The American Continental Congress issued eleven medals for valor during the American Revolution. This book tells the stories behind these brave men and their exploits, and the long process of procuring their individual medals. America had no generic medal for valor at the time. They also had no mint, so had to have France and their sculptors create each medal. This was a labor of love for Franklin and Jefferson while they were Ambassadors to France. Thomas Jefferson himself collected the medals, and presented a set of them to George Washington. Collectors of these medals often include in the series other medals sculpted by the same engravers and struck in Paris relating to the American Revolution. People call the collecting area Comitia Americana (Latin for American Congress). Twenty-six medals are pictured in full page color photographs. The book includes full information about types of medals available and their cost. Foreword by Niel Musante. Topics covered are: Chapter 1. Introduction and Franklin Chapter 2. Medals procured by Franklin: De Fleury 1779 and Libertas Americana 1783 Chapter 3. Dupré's Franklin Medals 1784 & 1786 Chapter 4. Medals procured by Humphreys 1787: Gates and Greene Chapter 5. Jefferson 1789: Washington before Boston Medal Chapter 6. Jefferson 1789: two remaining Stony Point Medals, Wayne & Stewart Medals Chapter 7. Jefferson 1789: 3 Cowpens medals; Morgan, William Washington & Howard Medals Chapter 8. William Short 1789: Jones Medal Chapter 9. Jefferson and Short: Diplomatic Medal Chapter 10. Lee Paulus Hook Medal Chapter 11. Related medals: Treaty of Paris Medal, Lafayette Vengeur Medal Table of types of Comitia Americana Medals and prices, Timeline, Lists, Index