(Ca. 1801) Benjamin Franklin Ne A Boston medal by Lienard. Fuld FR.ME.NL.10, Greenslet GM-25. Copper repousse, uniface, 46.5 mm. MS-64 BN (PCGS).

87.6 grains. Called an "obverse cliche" by PCGS, this is actually a finished piece, struck as a uniface copper shell. A medal in the Yale University collection shows how this medal was intended to be displayed; it is housed in a plain circular frame with a suspension ring and backed with a similar struck shell with a legend, within a peripheral wreath, that reads MEDAILLEUR GENERAL / DES HOMMES ILLUSTRES / CELEBRES OU FAMEUX / ANCIENS ET MODERNES / COMMENCE EN 1801 / PAR P.G. LIENARD / A PARIS. This one is particularly lovely, with lustrous chocolate brown surfaces and a bit of faded mint color. We prefer it to the MS-63 (PCGS) from Syd Martin that we sold last November.

From the Richard Margolis Collection. Earlier from Peus' sale of the Paul Jehne Collection, May 1992.

Estimate: $500