1777 B. Franklin Américain Portrait Medallion. Fur Cap without Spectacles. By Jean-Baptiste Nini. Margolis-17, Baiardi-Sibille 94, Greenslet GM-15, Storelli-LXI, Villers-43#var. Terracotta.
113.4 mm, approximately 7.0 mm at the edge. 2616.5 grains. Obverse with incuse signature and date NINI / F 1777 on truncation, left of coat of arms. Secondary date 1777 below, in relief. B FRANKLIN AMERICAIN around, separated by four rosettes and a single stop, with raised plain border. Made with a suspension hole from the top edge through to the back, as typical. Oblique edges finished in a prominent bevel around the reverse rim. An old piece of heavy thread through the suspension hole. An exceptional example of this prized and immensely historic artwork. Molded in orange-tan terracotta from the grounds at the Château de Chaumont where Nini worked exclusively from late 1772 until his death in 1786. While variations exist, this is the more typical color of the clay from the pottery works there and is quite handsome. Almost completely free of marks save for a singular tiny flake out of one of the border lines. About as nice as these historic portrait medallions are ever seen. The export variant type, intended for distribution in America in 1779. The documented shipment of these medallions never made its destination, having wrecked off the French coast and taken "five or six cases" of Nini's works (each reported to contain 100 medallions) with it to the ocean floor. The wreck was salvaged, yet the medallions seemingly sat in storage for more than five decades undisturbed. It seems that they began to enter the public sphere by the 1870s, and can be found in superb condition, as seen here, with some patience. It is unclear whether all of this type were aboard the lost ship.

Estimate: $1750