(1782) Admiral Rodney / Battle of the Saintes Medal. Betts-unlisted, BHM-243, Liechty-16. White Metal, 35.2 mm. MS-62 (PCGS).

Acquired from our sale of November 2015, where this medal was described as: "A spectacular example of this very rare medal, rated as RRR by Brown in British Historical Medals, who cited only a specimen in the British Museum. Both sides show abundant flashy luster, somewhat mellowed in the obverse fields but still exhibiting full freshness on the reverse. The portrait of Rodney is similar to the image seen on Betts-579 and Betts-580, but in particularly fine style. The caption below his bust translates to "Avenger of Treachery." A detailed battle scene at the central obverse is framed with a long two-line peripheral legend: French Insults Reveng'd & Britania's Honor's Recover'd By The Bravery of Rodney / In The Glorious Victory Over De Grasse 12 April 1782. Missing from the Betts work, LaRiviere, and Ford, this is the outstanding rarity of the struck Rodney series, commemorating a battle "of much importance to the British in jockeying for position at the Peace of Paris" in the words of our consignor. As rare as it is attractive, this is a potential centerpiece in an advanced collection of medals related to the American Revolution, the West Indies, or British naval history." Liechty lists this medal as Rarity-7, citing this specimen and the one in the Edward Roehrs Collection. This is certainly the classiest medallic souvenir after this important battle, a resounding British naval victory in the spring following the surrender at Yorktown. The defeat of the French strengthened British resolve at the treaty table and helped to win concessions before the final peace agreement was signed in September 1783. As important as this battle was, and as noteworthy as Rodney's leadership was at the time, it's a wonder this well made medal was not more popular and, rather, ended up so rare today.

PCGS# 926063.

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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) Americana sale, January 2010, lot 4714; our sale of the John W. Adams Collection, November 2015, lot 23056.