Essai de Gallé, 1792, bell-metal, 39mm., head of Liberty left, hair flowing behind, Liberty cap on pole over right shoulder, rev. legend in wreath (VG 338), light rub on highpoints otherwise extremely fine

Details
Essai de Gallé, 1792, bell-metal, 39mm., head of Liberty left, hair flowing behind, Liberty cap on pole over right shoulder, rev. legend in wreath (VG 338), light rub on highpoints otherwise extremely fine

Lot Essay

The head of Liberty by Gallé was also used for the 'Libertas Americana' medal (Betts 615), the first use of the motif on an American piece and, as such, assumed to be the model for the 1793 Cent and Half-cent. The design was used at the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin, who was in Paris in 1792.