France. 1792 Lyon Convention Medal. By Galle. Maz-318. Metal de Cloche. MS-63 (PCGS).
39.1 mm. 636.8 grains. Obv: A left facing head of Liberty with cap-topped pole serves as the focal device with the inscription LIBERTE FRANCOISE above, the inscription L'AN L . DE LA . R . F . below, and the "signature" GALLE along the truncation of the bust. Rev: Multi-line inscription within an encircling wreath. Both sides exhibit deep steely-charcoal patina olive-copper patina, the surfaces impressively smooth in appearance and boldly defined throughout. Most specimens of this medal show significant granularity, as struck, but this piece was made on a particularly choice planchet. A popular medal with American collectors, the obverse design is similar to that used on the famous Libertas Americana medal, which in turn inspired the Liberty Cap coinage of the early U.S. Mint. Examples of this type were struck from metal taken from a bell rung in 1792, the first year of the new French Republic. A sizeable crack in the front of the PCGS holder is noted, making this piece a candidate for reholdering should the winning bidder choose to pursue that option directly with PCGS.
From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation. Earlier from Presidential Coin & Antique Co., Inc.'s sale of the Charles McSorley Collection, Part II, July 1998, lot 653; our (Stack's) Norweb Collection sale, November 2006, lot 2243; Ira & Larry Goldberg's Pre-Long Beach Auction of January 2019, lot 403. Stack's lot tag included.