I am not sure what type of information you are looking for, or what information you have found that is confusing, but hopefully the following is helpful:
If your purpose is just to determine their current value.Their current market value is $1 - $2 each. They are very common and can be found rather easily - I often see them in dealer junk boxes / bargain bins. Dealers that I know report having difficulty selling them at even $1.00 each - there is simply no meaningful collector base for them. In fact, two dealers recently donated more than 50 of the medals to my local coin club after trying to sell them for a few months; the club is giving them to young collectors. One dealer donated ~35, the other 18.
If your intent was to learn more about the background of medals.- The medals you've shown are part of a series called "America's First Medals" and are reductions of the original medals that were "voted by the Continental Congress to honor the bold commanders and successful Revolutionary War battles that won for a new nation its freedom and independence." (US Mint Press Release from 1974)
- There are 10 medals in the series.
- The US Mint struck the 1-1/2" medals in pewter and gave them an antique finish; the application of the antique finish can cause variations in the appearance of the medals. They were part of the Mint's bicentennial medal program which was active from 1972 to 1976.
- The medals were sold, beginning in April 1974, in pairs for $10 a set. Each medal was placed in a black plastic flip case that included a brief informational pamphlet on the medal.
Set 1: General George Washington and General Horatio Gates;
Set 2: General Anthony Wayne and Colonel Francois Louis Teisseidre de Fleury;
Set 3: Major Henry ("Light Horse Harry") Lee and General Daniel Morgan;
Set 4: Lieutenant Colonel John E. Howard and Lieutenant Colonel William Washington and
Set 5: General Nathaniel Greene and Captain John Paul Jones. The medal sets were issued every four to six months until the series was completed with the April 1976 release.
- In addition to the two-medal sets, the medals were also available as a complete set (via subscription) for $55. Those who ordered the full set also received a blue display album for the medals and an informative booklet about the history of the original medals; an 11th medal featuring the Department of the Treasury Seal was also included. The book was authored by Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli of the Smithsonian Institution. The album with all 11 medals and booklet can often be purchased for $20-$25 dollars at coin shows - and often at the same price point on
ebay (though sometimes some sellers try to sell them at exorbitant prices). The albums are not scarce.
The above info should get you started!
Posted 10/26/2018 02:35 am
