1756 Kittanning Destroyed Medal. Betts-400. Pewter, 43.6 mm. MS-62 (PCGS).
296.3 grains. An extremely rare format for this medal, struck in pewter from an early state of the dies when these already antique dies arrived at the Philadelphia Mint. These were struck at about the same time as the early state Treaty of Easton medals, whose dies were made in 1757 by the same team of Duffield and Richardson. Joseph Richardson's eponymous son was on staff at the Philadelphia Mint when this was made, probably between 1800 and 1810. The pewter Harry Bass Kittanning Destroyed medal last sold in our sale of the Wharton Collection in March 2014, bringing $5,287.50. The only other one we've sold since Ford was the Adams piece, sold in our (Stack's) 2009 Americana sale and again in November 2017. Though damaged, it brought $1,140 in 2017. This example is lustrous deep silver gray with choice surfaces and superb eye appeal. The surfaces are pristine, a remarkable testament to continued careful preservation of a soft metal piece. Both dies are perfect.
PCGS# 619514.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Carl Wurtzbach; Virgil Brand Collection; Virgil Brand estate to John J. Ford, Jr., via New Netherlands Coin Company; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIV, May 2006, lot 14.

Estimate: $3500