(1863) William Pitt Medal. Betts-516. Silver, 41 mm. MS-63 (PCGS).

476.6 grains. Kraljevich 2-B. Enthusiastically toned in bright shades of pastel blue and violet over deeply reflective surfaces. Some hairlines are seen, but the visual appeal is immense, and no real issues require note. While it's easy enough to see Betts-515 (with no signature of Pingo at the shoulder truncation) is one of the varieties made from copy dies in 1863, this obverse is a tricky one: it too was made about 1863 but bears a crudely rendered PINGO F. on the shoulder, thereby making Betts-516 applicable to medals from two different obverses struck a century apart. It remains popular, and silver examples are genuinely scarce. When this pretty, they are downright rare. Notably, Mr. Margolis acquired this medal in the same sale where he bought the highlight of his collection, the only John Stewart Comitia Americana medal in private hands.

From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier from Spink & Son's Auction 18, November 1981, lot 939.

Estimate: $3000