1760 Montreal Taken Medal. Betts-429, Eimer-236. Silver. AU-58 (PCGS).

40.6 mm. 441.3 grains. Plain edge. Even and appealing deep slate gray on the obverse, more lustrous and lively on the reverse, with reflective silver gray surfaces showing pastel blue and deep golden toning. Multiply struck to bring up detail, typical of this medal and others in the SPAC series, with evidence of the multiple striking seen at the peripheries. Sharp and problem free, with minimal evidence of handling. No mini-set within the Betts series surpasses the SPAC medals from the era of the French and Indian War when considering the historical and aesthetic appeal. Conceived by numismatist Thomas Hollis, a friend of Benjamin Franklin's, the medals riff on themes from ancient coins while splendidly embracing motifs related to the then-contemporary war in America. With a weeping pine and a curious beaver, this medal ranks high among the medals of the Society for Promoting Arts and Commerce (later known as the Royal Society for the Arts) for sheer brilliance of design. It is scarce in both copper and silver, but this is the less common composition.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from the Wayte Raymond estate; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIV, May 2006, lot 98.