Heritage is pleased to be able to present The Dresden Collection of British and Betts Medals as our latest monthly World and Ancient Coin auction. This auction will be open for bidding through November 24, with a live auction beginning at 8 pm Central Time.
In 1894, the book American Colonial History Illustrated by Contemporary Medals was published, listing a total of 623 medals from 1559 to 1783 that relate to the “New World”. The author, Charles Wyllys Betts, was a lifelong collector of medals, most specifically Admiral Vernon medals. He was a numismatic author and became a member of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society in 1884 and published many works through them. However, his most famous work was left unfinished due to his untimely death in 1887 and was completed by his brother Frederic Henry Betts, William Sumner Appleton, Lyman Haynes Low, and William Theophilus Rogers Marvin, and published seven years after his passing.
“Chamber of WIC in Groningen” silver Medal 1683-Dated MS62 NGC
Most of the medals are rare, yet they hold a lot of history about the early Americas, having been struck in numerous countries including the United States, England, France, the Netherlands, and Spain. To this day, no collector has ever completed the series of Betts medals as many of the medals are unique.
A few of the highlights of this auction include:
- Don Luis de Velasco & Vincenzo Gonzales bronze “Capture of Morro Castle” Medal 1763 MS62 Brown NGC, Betts-443, 49mm
- Anne silver “Expedition to Vigo Bay” Medal 1702 MS62 NGC, Betts-96, 43mm
- “Louisburg Taken” silver Medal 1758 MS62 NGC, Betts-410, 45mm
- Charles II silver “British Colonization” Medal 1670 MS63 NGC, Betts-44, 41mm
- “Chamber of WIC in Groningen” silver Medal 1683-Dated MS62 NGC, Betts-64, 45mm
- James II silver “Salvage of the Concepción By William Phips” 1687 Medal MS64 NGC, Betts-67, 54mm
- “John Law – Who Buys Shares” silver Medal 1720-Dated MS63 NGC, Betts-118. 35mm)
- “Kittanning Destroyed” silver Medal 1756-Dated MS62 NGC, Betts-400. 44mm
Bid on this auction now at coins.HA.com.