Libertas Americanas medal leads sale

Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland have reported good sales in their recent Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu Auction, with the star of the sale a historically important Libertas Americana silver medal, dated 1781 and graded MS-60, which drew significant international attention and multiple telephone bidders before selling for a total of £82,000 ($110,000).

Another standout result was achieved by a rare Wedgwood Anti-Slavery Medallion, a powerful symbol of the eighteenth-century abolitionist movement, which also drew considerable global interest and realised £2,340.

Other highlights included a late 19th-century Continental silver figure of a lion, which achieved £6,500 against an estimate of £2,000 to £2,500; a William IV silver tea urn that sold for £6,240 against an estimate of £2,000 to £3,000; an extremely rare Queen Anne Scottish silver tazza that realised £3,800 and a late Victorian two-handled silver tea tray, which brought £4,940.

The Libertas Americana silver medal, widely regarded as one of the most celebrated pieces in American numismatic history, was the centrepiece of the auction. Commissioned by Benjamin Franklin in 1782 and produced in Paris the following year, the medal commemorates the birth of the United States and the victories at Saratoga and Yorktown, which secured French support during the American Revolutionary War. Struck in silver, a format far rarer than the more commonly encountered bronze issues, the medal is thought to have been reserved for dignitaries, including George Washington and senior French officials.

The example offered by Anderson & Garland was uncovered during an ‘On The Road’ valuation event in Tynemouth, where it was brought in by a member of the public who was unaware of its rarity or value. Following expert assessment and professional grading by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), it was consigned to the sale with an estimate of £50,000 to £80,000.

Fred Wyrley-Birch, Director at Anderson & Garland, commented: “It is a rare privilege to handle an object so steeped in the story of nations. The Libertas Americana is more than just a medal—it is a symbol of liberty, diplomacy, and shared struggle. To discover such an exceptional example, preserved for generations in a family home, is the kind of moment auctioneers dream of.”

A Wedgwood Anti-Slavery Medallion in the sale also generated strong interest. Featuring the poignant inscription “Am I Not a Man and a Brother”, the ceramic medallion became an enduring emblem of the abolitionist movement in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Josiah Wedgwood, one of the most influential industrialists of his time, produced these medallions to advance the campaign against the transatlantic slave trade, distributing them free of charge at meetings of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

Fred Wyrley-Birch said: “The medallion is a powerful statement of conscience and represents a pivotal moment in the history of Western abolitionism. Wedgwood’s decision to support the cause, despite the commercial risks, demonstrates the depth of his convictions. Its survival today speaks to the enduring importance of that message.”

Wedgwood’s medallions are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution. Their historical significance is further underlined by correspondence between Wedgwood and Benjamin Franklin, who believed the medallion might prove as influential as any pamphlet in promoting abolition.