1776-dated U.S. Diplomatic Modern Restrike Medal, Silver NGC MS68 - Unique in Silver!

This piece is unique, a great rarity among modern medal restrikes.

Stacks-Bowers wrote in 2019: "This is a very scarce medal. A single silver specimen is recorded on the mintage figures for the 1876/77 fiscal year, likely the one sent in April 1876 to Professor Jules Marcou, who supplied his original Diplomatic Medal [the lead proof crafted by Augustin Dupre] to the U.S. Mint to serve as models for William Barber's copy dies." According to Heritage Auctions, however, it was Charles Barber who crafted the dies. Please see below for details. Julian-CM-15 Restrike.

Obtaining an original of this medal (4 known) is simply not a possibility for most numismatists, making this unique silver restrike of the U.S. Diplomatic Medal quite desirable. NGC has graded this sole example and PCGS has graded none in silver. Research has determined that this piece is unique, confirming what Stacks-Bowers tells us, that "A single silver specimen is recorded..." The dies were created by Charles Barber, for as Heritage writes (in 2019), "These are identified by the addition of DUPRE F. and C. BARBER. in small letters, and the placement of the left wingtip between the ES in STATES. Julian credits the engraver as Chief Engraver William Barber, but Charles Barber had been an assistant engraver for the U.S. Mint since 1869."

Jules Marcou, the Swiss-American geologist and numismatist, who once owned the unique silver medal now being offered by AUCM. He wrote in 1874, "In the autumn of 1867, I purchased in Paris, from a dealer in coins...a lot of American Medals....Among them I found a lead proof in two parts..." According to the National Museum of American History, "The [Diplomatic] medal was later recast in 1876 for the American Centennial using the original lead proof by...Augustin Dupre." Marcou provided the U.S. Mint with the lead proof he purchased in Paris.

Ironically, the restrike of this medal was produced before the discovery of the originals.

The original medal was the pet project of Thomas Jefferson. The obverse presents the original version of the Great Seal of the United States, as crafted by famed French medalist Augustin Dupré. The eagle holds a ribbon in his beak upon which is inscribed the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. An escutcheon is displayed upon his breast. Thirteen stars are found atop the obverse within a sun; rays emanate from the sun through clouds onto the eagle's wings. The legend THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the majestic bird at the rim. An allegory of America is found on the reverse, in the figure of a American Indian princess. She holds a cornucopia and gestures to bundles of goods besides an anchor, foreshadowing future numismatic trade dollar designs. A ship representing Atlantic commerce and interactions with Europe is found in the background. Mercury as Commerce, grasping his caduceus, approaches the Indian princess. The legend TO PEACE AND COMMERCE is above the two figures, while the date 1776 is offered in Roman numerals in the exergue.