1777 Battle of Germantown Medal. Betts-556. Copper, 44.5 mm. EF-45 (PCGS).

432.6 grains, Somewhat crude replacement hanger, likely dating from the useful life of this medal. A handsome example of this historic Revolutionary War medal. Medium brown with glossy surfaces retaining some rose and violet tones, evidence of ancient cleaning that probably dates to the era when a soldier stood with this on his lapel for a uniform inspection. Scattered marks are seen across the surfaces and around the rims, consistent with use and wear as a decoration. When we use the term "useful life" referring to a medal, we mean the period when this medal served a function other than as a mere collectible. In the case of the Germantown medal, this served as the regiment distinction for members of the 40th Foot. Early medals, like this one, were struck as early as 1785 and awarded to men who were actually present for the battle as a good conduct recognition. These dies continued to be employed throughout much of the 19th century, though later pieces have a very different look and surface texture. Though a bit battered and used, this piece retains excellent detail, showing the intricate scene of the battle (based upon a contemporary watercolor) on the obverse. Like Indian Peace medals, decorations intended for rank and file soldiers are almost preferable with some evidence of use; a medal that sat in a cabinet for centuries is far less interesting, even if a bit more aesthetically pleasing. The 40th Regiment of Foot returned home in 1783. This medal was produced slightly thereafter as a battle award for the veterans of the Philadelphia Campaign, making it the only British award medal for an action of the American Revolution. They were first documented in 1789, when a report to the War Office noted: "The Officers of this Regiment Wear also a silver Medal round their necks presented to them by the present Colonel in memory of the very gallant and noble stand the Regiment made at German Town, which however proper, and tending to keep up the memory of the extraordinary good behaviour of the Regiment on that Duty, I find wants the sanction of His Majesty's Approbation to be Entered in the Regimental Orderly Books." The "present colonel" in 1789 was General Sir George Osborne, who took over command in 1786, perhaps suggesting an origin date for these medals. The silver examples that are known are from early states of the dies, suggesting a batch was struck and then distributed over time, into the 19th century when this medal became something more akin to a good conduct medal than a battle award. Copper examples were struck over a longer interval, it appears, with awarded examples outnumbered by unholed strikes for cabinets. We've sold just two copper examples since the 2005 Ford sales. The last, a lovely EF from the E Pluribus Unum Collection that had previously been offered in the Ford sale, brought $18,000 in November 2021. The more worn Adams medal brought $11,750 in 2015.

PCGS# 889614.

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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) Americana sale, January 2004, lot 2440; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.