1777 B. Franklin Américain Portrait Plaque by Nini. Greenslet GM-15, Margolis-17, Betts-548. Terracotta. Nearly Mint State.

113.4 mm. A lovely example of the most popular Franklin portrait issued during his lifetime, molded in France by Jean-Baptiste Nini and popular with Franklin's fans in Europe and the United States during and after the American Revolution. The color is excellent, the devices sharp, and the rims totally intact. A small spot of what appears to be graphite is left of the floret before AMERICAIN and a nearly invisible hairline crack descends through the top of Franklin's head but does not cross the wide rim to the edge. On the blank back, a pencil inscription reading "W.H. Pall / (illegible) 1854" is barely visible at center. A chip at the rim and edge near 8:00 is not visible from the obverse. The hole at top edge and top back are as made and ready to be used for suspension today. A very desirable medallion, as handsome and desirable now as it was at the end of the American Revolution.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) Americana sale of January 2009, lot 5658.