1779 Admiral Keppel Medal. BHM-214. Silver, 40 mm. AU-58 (PCGS).

523.1 grains. Another example, from a different reverse die and on a much thicker planchet. The high relief portrait is boldly detailed, and the brilliant, untoned fields show a bit of reflectivity. Some hairlines and old polish are seen, some planchet roughness atop the obverse suggests this is a cast rather than a rolled planchet. The edge shows a collar mark at 6 o'clock and what appears to be crushed diagonal reeding, best seen between 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock. This is likely production-era filing on the edge of a cast planchet which was then mostly obliterated in the two-part collar. An attractive example of a medal that is rarely encountered in silver (or any other composition). We last sold an example in the November 2015 offering of medals from the John W. Adams Collection but have not had a silver or copper one since.

From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier from Christopher Eimer at COINEX, October 1990.

Estimate: $1000