1776 (1792) United States Diplomatic Medal Reverse Cliche. Loubat-19. Tin (white metal), 68 mm. MS-62 (PCGS).

1025.4 grains. Backed with plain laid paper. An exceptionally attractive trial of Dupre's Diplomatic medal reverse, the same reverse that was completed and used to strike the known bronze examples. Even and attractive pewter gray with some maroon toning and old encrustation around the devices. Beautifully struck and well made, no significant fissuring or unevenness, one natural gap beneath IV at the left side of the exergue. Only a thin vertical scratch beneath D of AND keeps this from a higher grade. This is the adopted reverse, the third one executed and the one seen on all known bronze specimens. We have not offered a trial from this die since August 2012; while Adams owned the unique impression of the first reverse, and a very fine example of the second reverse (now at the American Numismatic Society), he did not own one of these. The number of surviving Diplomatic medal cliches, perhaps 19 in all, is vastly larger than the surviving total of cliches for most of Dupre's American-related medals. This reflects two facts: there were two obverses and three reverses and they kept breaking during hardening, and this medal was considered of top-line importance to the American government. One can imagine William Short huddling with Dupre over these cliches and nervously approving them knowing the weight Thomas Jefferson placed upon this project. The vast majority of those cliches are today in strong institutional hands. Of the 10 held privately (one of which is unaccounted for since 1920), eight were in the Ford V sale. Just because collectors today happen to have been alive when that hoard surfaced, they should not consider these cliches as common; they are not. Even if they were, their historical importance could readily overcome it.

From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier found in an old safety deposit box before 1953, believed ex Wayte Raymond; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part V, October 2004, lot 197.

Estimate: $20000