Lot 134
[Franklin, Benjamin] USA. B. Franklin of Philadelphia Medal, 1777. Bronze, 47.3mm, 48.2 grams, plain edge, unsigned. Betts-547; Greenslet-GM40 (at 45mm). Rarity 7 with 11-15 known.Three quarter bust facing left wearing a turbaned stocking or "Liberty" cap; Reverse: Lightning striking a tree, date in exergue. Considering the diameter variance, possibly a slightly later strike. Several edge nicks and contact marks on obv. and rev. with an edge bump or two and holed at aprox. 12 o'clock, otherwise Very Fine. Contained in a handsome, but not original to this medal, fancy red leather, gold ornamented, fitted case of late 19th or early 20th century vintage.
Among the rarest and most desirable medals in the Franklin series, these garner collector attention even in far less than the usually minimum acceptable condition for medals, i.e., in the Stacks January 2012 Americana auction a considerably abused specimen, lot 6030, realized $1495 with BP. And in the Jan. 2005 auction of the same firm, a specimen described as EF with a conspicuous dig above the cap, quite possibly an attempted holing for suspension as with the present specimen, realized $3450 with buyer's premium.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500.
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