2020 Libertas Americana restrike
Knell
Posts: 453 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just wanted to share photos of my latest addition to my Libertas medal...
Sorry for not so good photos from my phone but thanks for viewing.
12
Comments
While the new version is 1 ounce, it is only .950 silver. I found that very odd.
It looks really nice and congrats! I love this design and the relief on Lady Liberty is amazing.
At the same time, I wonder if they are over doing it a bit with the restrikes now. There seem to be so many from different years now. A lot of them are available on the market so what makes the 2020 one better than the previous ones?
What would make this 2020 replica worse than the previous replicas?
France is a socialist State and keeping people in gainful employment is probably a high priority.
I'd rather not say, but I think a reason it could be better is that it's 95% silver. Perhaps it will have a different propensity to tone or resist toning. For that reason alone, it may be worth picking one up.
Employment is a good thing.
I had a very nice visit to the ateliers of La Monnaie de Paris in November 1993. La Hotel de la Monnaie has to be a very grand and pleasant to work. I was just a walk-in to the Museum and me and two other older Americans got an excellent top-notch tour of the medals workshop.
The heavy industrial coin production is done in Pessac, a suburb of Bordeaux - approximately 300 miles to the Southwest.
I also bought this medal from MCM in Sarasota, but I don't believe that it has shipped yet. They are probably swamped with bullion business after the financial turmoil of last week. The medal in NGC slab was pricey, but I've been bitten worse.
The most recent Paris Mint Libertas medals (aside from this 2020 emission) was in 2015, so this is 5 years later. These new ones are very very similar to the 2015 1 ounce medals.
I thought the most recent was around 2012-13. Guess I missed the 2015. Anyway, I've placed my order for this one. Beautiful coin....err..medal. Whatever.
In 2014, the Paris Mint issued "restrikes" in 5oz gold, 1oz gold, and 5oz silver. In 2015, the Paris Mint issued restrikes in 1oz silver and 1 kilo silver. The 2020 restrikes look very much like the 2015 issue, however, the 2015 1oz medals were struck in .999 silver, while the 2020 medals were struck in .950 silver.
Is there a comprehensive list somewhere?
Also, any significance for the word restrikes in quotes for 2014 but not 2015 and 2020?
Yes, you are correct. Thanks for your research.
Cardinal, do you have any thoughts as to why the 2020 medals are .950 silver, and not .999? The difference is so insignificant. Why the change?
1ARGENT is the French markinf for their highest purity since the Revolution. It is .950 fine Ag.
According to this page: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/medals-french-silver.273936/
The terms were used from 1838 to 1973.
1ARGENT shouldn't be the highest quality any more if .999 was used in 2015.
Check Cardinals registry set. It’s what a I used when I formed mine. Mine is not listed plus Martin has a wealth of information on his set. It’s quite awesome
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Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Beautiful medals... I have been contemplating getting one, just for the art. The gold sounds nice, with the reverse resembling the Britannia....Cheers, RickO
Rather than putting all of the instances of the word "restrikes" into quotes, I just quoted the first one. Technically, ALL of the so-called "restrikes" are not actually true restrikes. All of them were made from different dies modeled after the original dies. A true restrike would be re-using the original dies in later years to have more examples for sale or other purposes. Nonetheless, since the new generations of the Libertas Americana medal have been struck officially at the Paris Mint, they are legitimate medals and not knock-offs like we see coming from China.
Apparently, NGC got the contract to market these new 2020 medals, so I'll have to submit the ones I have to get them into PCGS holders.
Where can you buy these? I checked the Paris Mint site and all they had were smurf coins.
MCM has them. The palladium has a mintage of 500.
Thanks for the explanation. I don't keep track of all the issues so I was wondering if anything was different about them. Only recently did I learn that there were some actual restrikes from original dies of the 1855 Kellogg slug done at the same time as the modern strikes in 2001.
It's interesting that MCM chose to use the word replica in their description. I wonder if more will adopt this terminology.
I've seen one type of knockoff on eBay now and it looks pretty bad. Do you follow how many different types of these have been struck? I follow some knockoffs but not this one yet.
There are a number of knockoffs over the years, and I do keep track of those as well. I believe I have a full set of the knockoffs, and when I have time, I will post pictures of those.
@Zoins
Per your request, these are the "knockoffs" I've identified over the years:
I have tried to place an order but can't navigate the website.
No rush to acquire this design for my collection, apparently it will continue to be struck every few years, forever..
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
@Hydrant
Looks like sold out on Modern Coin Mart website and their eBay MCM account for both raw and NGC graded. I thought I saw this still available this morning on Modern Coin Mart/MCM eBay account but when I checked both account a few minutes ago they showed as sold out. Try calling and maybe you'll get lucky. Good luck!
The two groups of the silver 2020 Libertas medals were either the ones labeled as "First Releases" that were graded as PF70 Ultra Cameo, and the other group was raw/ungraded specimens. The "First Releases" were limited to under 60 specimens. There is no way the Paris Mint would strike that few for 1oz silver medals. I suspect there will soon be an offering of NON-First Release in grades of PF70 and PF69!
i searched MCM web site...none. Called them.... Sold Out
No worries! I am certain there will be more of these, albeit not being "First Releases."
"First Release" for these means very little to me. May opt for raw.
The NGC "First Releases" label does nothing for me. I will be submitting the ones I have for crossover to PCGS.
They are available again.
https://moderncoinmart.com/product.php?productid=60610
One way to kill a collectible market is to overproduce product.
Quite true! That being said, these new silver strikes are supposed to be a run of no more than 5,000 pieces. Compare that with the 2004 24 gram silver proofs with 15,000 pieces struck!
I agree Capt. But I think I just snagged one. You're correct. I'm happy.
I’m happy for you!
They really do look very nice in hand, and basically perfect. Once PCGS opens back up, I’m going to submit a pair for crossover and to be put in a two-coin holder so both sides can be seen at once!
Thanks for posting. Just bough my first 1776 Libertas Americana from MCM.
They sold 6 in the last hour and have 21 left as of now.
For anyone that still has an eBay bucks 5% bonus today, they are the same price on eBay (as the website CC price) plus you get $5 in ebucks (ends tonight).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1776-France-Libertas-Americana-1-oz-Silver-Proof-Medal-GEM-Proof-SKU60610/133355980847?hash=item1f0ca2c82f:g:Bz0AAOSwYxBeZltA
Sold out....again.
Honestly, and with all due respect to Cardinal et al, this restrike/revised release is a nice design but tiresome in its recurrent reiterations.
Well, just Love coins, period.
Honestly, and with all due respect to other numismatists, the Lincoln penny has been around now for 112 years - rather tiresome to my eyes, yet thousands of collectors eagerly collect them annually.
Still listed on eBay, but with limited quantities.
https://ebay.com/itm/1776-France-Libertas-Americana-1-oz-Silver-Proof-Medal-GEM-Proof-SKU60610/133355980847?hash=item1f0ca2c82f:g:Bz0AAOSwYxBeZltA
Do the Libertas Americana medals show a new date for each issue like the Lincoln Cents?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
All of the Libertas medals struck prior to the year 2000, the medals have different dates struck into the medal - either on the obverse, reverse or the edge. All of the recent (post-1999) so-called restrikes have certificates of authenticity with the dates, number of pieces struck, the metallic content, and the purity so that they can be identified as to when they where struck.
Not that it matters, but I do not collect Lincoln cents and feel the same way about them. And I confess to having a later date Libertas Americana in silver. Perhaps you might check the copper/bronze that I do collect though - see post on the 1869 proof farthing from 2 days ago.
Well, just Love coins, period.
For those interested in the latest addition to the Paris Mint's 2020 1oz silver Libertas medals, they are now available on eBay raw and in capsules at the price of $39.99 each.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LIBERTAS-AMERICANA-1-OUNCE-999-SILVER-PROOF-SUPER-HIGH-RELIEF-STRIKE-MEDAL/184232879183?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908105057&meid=330ca0eacef34afe94215322d1583b02&pid=100675&rk=2&rkt=15&mehot=none&sd=383272728691&itm=184232879183&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:a7d38d78-7362-11ea-8676-dad097c86fb2|parentrq:312ab55b1710a4d276928fd9fff5907b|iid:1
SHEESH
Thanks, I think LOL
Why are they so much cheaper from him? Why do they not come with any sort of documentation, etc? Are these a chinese knock off?
The mintage of the 2020 Libertas medals was stated to be 5,000. Even though that is less than earlier issues, there's just not that much demand for a sell-out. I suspect these were discounted to me more like a 1oz silver round to help sales, and as silver rounds, the quality may be below par. I ordered a few, and when I get them, I'll post my thoughts on them, and whether they are Chinese knockoffs or actual Paris Mint products.
I expect the $39.99 specials will NOT come with any COA paperwork, but the ones from MCM should have that.
It does look odd overall. The seller has sold 8 already and still has 50 available. Unless he bought a huge lot from someone dumping their collection, that is a lot available from one person at a relatively low price.
eBay buyer protection should cover anyone if these turn out to not be real, so the risk is minimal for those that want to give it a go.
But without paperwork, it is harder to know if they are genuine (I would think at least)