1779 Admiral Keppel Medal. BHM-215. White metal, 25 mm. AU-58 (PCGS).

111.1 grains. An apparently scarce Keppel medalet, a variety missing from the notable Ford Collection of Keppel medals and not offered by us in any sale since. Lustrous silver gray with only minor mellowing in the fields. Nicely struck and well preserved, with the charming nearly fully facing bust of Keppel nicely defined. His upper lip is a bit flattened (so much for the English stiff upper lip). A and G of AUGUSTUS and the first P of KEPPEL are incompletely struck up, probably due to a filled die. A little speck of verdigris is noted between N and T of GALLANT. A handsome little piece. The only example listed in the last two decades of sales on CoinArchives was a much more worn piece in Baldwin's September 2016 sale; though properly described as "very rare" it went unsold. Now seems to be the time to start the next great collection of Keppel medals.

From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier from Christopher Eimer at COINEX, October 1993.

Estimate: $500