1777 Franklin Spectacles Large terra cotta medal

ipmman

I thought I would share this rare piece with all of you medal and colonial collectors.

Yes, this is probably my favorite piece in my collection!

Exceedingly rare (unique?) Nini portrait medallion, with spectacles AND legends. John J. Ford had one with the bust and spectacles only, but without any surrounding legendd or raised "framing" that sold last year for $10,000. Unlisted in Betts. Measures about 110mm in diameter, over 4 inches.

I've been told there is another example like this one with spectacles and legends in Paris, maybe another in New England as well, but i sure can't hunt down any specific evidence of another example anywhere. Notice this also differs from the common version with legends and no spectacles, as the date is larger on this example, and this is also missing the first initial "B" of Franklin..

Let me know your thoughts. I am not an expert and happened upon this only by very good fortune. If you know of any other example of this, even an old auction appearance, I would appreciate it if you could share the info with me.

The piece is absolutely not for sale, my wife knows I get to die owning this. Financial need comes and goes, but I know selling this will be something I will regret far beyond the time that I spend enjoying any financial gain from it. As a newbie, I don't know all of the protocal on asking value, so forgive me for asking. Since it's not really for sale (I don't fish, be direct is my rule, period) I am curious about, and welcome opinions regarding value in today's market.

I do have more to add , that I will post later on this thread, but want to see some any reaction about it first.

speety

Sweet coin, and franklin has to be one of the most interesting and important men ever to live in the US.

Mark

ipmman:

I truly envy you that piece and I fully understand your desire to keep it forever. Over the years, I've seen 3 or 4 of these--undoubtably the common versions, not your really neat rare version--auctioned in Stack's auctions and they are the only items that I often think about and regret not bidding and winning one. I think it's truly amazing to realize that these pieces were made when Franklin was a living, breathing person and that he may actually have looked at the very piece you own.

One question: How thick is the medallion?

Actually, let me edit this message to add another question: How fragile is the medallion?

ipmman

The medal is fragile, as is any terracotta piece. It is probably 3/8" thich on edge, thicker at all of the various points of high relief.

I dojn't remove it from where it is safely packed to measure it, I don't touch it at all for fear it will break!

Mark

ipmman:

I feared that the medal was easily breakable, which is why I didn't bid on them when I saw them in the Stack's auctions (and had money for coins). But as more time passed, I increasingly regretted my choice to not bid. They are just so cool!

One last question: Have you ever looked on the back? Is there any sort of provenance, such as an inked name or something similar, on the reverse?

DUIGUY

LOVE IT !!

dtkk49a

How is something like this authenticated ?

jonathanb

There was a with-spectacles version on eBay about a year ago. I knew more about it than the seller, but still I didn't know how to authenticate it or how to ship it without breakage. In the end I was underbidder at $300 or so. I still don't know how to authenticate it, so I don't regret losing it -- much!