Best Of

This is a very condensed version of an article that will be published next year in the lead up to Independence day:

Most Americans know the story of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, but few have heard of the Mecklenburg Declaration of 1775—a claim that North Carolinians declared freedom more than a year before Philadelphia. Whether fact, memory, or myth, the idea lives on in metal.

In 1875, the U.S. Mint struck a centennial medal to honor that supposed “first declaration.” Designed by Chief Engraver William Barber, it’s a masterpiece of symbolism. A liberty cap rests atop a branch, the classic emblem of freedom, while below sits a hornet’s nest—a nod to the British nickname for Charlotte, “a hornet’s nest of rebellion.” Two clasped hands complete the design, signifying unity and resolve.

The reverse reads simply: “Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, May 20th, 1775.” Only 1,005 silver and 1,000 bronze examples were struck, most on half-dollar planchets, giving them a coin-like feel unusual for the era.

Today, these pieces rarely appear on the market, commanding about $1,000 when they do. Beyond their numismatic value, they capture how Americans forge identity through art—turning contested memory into tangible history, struck in silver, bronze, and legend.

@Morgan White said:
Looted?

I thought when a ship sunk and wasn't actively salvaged by the owner, then it was fair game.

Not warships. Under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, sunken warships (and all artifacts associated with them) remain the property of the nation that launched them, unless that nation formally relinquishes ownership. For example, the Nazis handed over all their warships as part of the unconditional surrender, and this would have included sunken ships - so sunken Nazi warships don't belong to Germany, they belong to whichever of the Allied powers they were allocated to.

Sunken warships are also normally regarded as war graves, and accorded protection by the local authorities on that basis - though perhaps not in this specific instance, if the entire crew did indeed survive the wreck.

This is the main reason why there's always a hullabaloo whenever someone attempts to salvage treasure from off a Spanish shipwreck. Because Spain argues that every single ship that flew the Spanish flag was a part of their auxiliary navy at the time and therefore was a "warship" - even if it was functionally just a treasure barge.

@Mr_Spud said:
I heard it’s just the Type 3 ones that are easy to find toned. I looked into it and couldn’t find nice toned ones for type 1 and 2 for my circulated type sets, but my type 3 is nicely toned. I remember reading why this was so on this forum, I think it was either Bill Jones or Tom B., maybe both contributing to the same thread, but I’m not sure, but there was a legit sounding reason why the type 1 and 2 aren’t usually nicely toned.

I picked this one up pushing 20 years ago. I wasn’t looking for one specifically (toned or not), but I couldn’t pass it up at a show.

@Klif50 I recall those JH Cline tokens and elongated SLQs very well. I don't own any, but I do remember him having them at his table at shows. Here is something I do own-