Libertas Americana Mule Team

cardinal · February 16, 2018 7:44PM

Inspired by @Justacommeman and his new Libertas Americana medals, let's make this a truly patriotic Presidents' Day weekend!

After waiting and waiting for grading and photography, I can finally debut my Mule Team of Libertas Americana tokens, with each and every one a mule of its own, as none of them bear any merchant's name or advertisement!

If anyone out there has any other Libertas Americana mules, let's see them!

Justacommeman · February 16, 2018 9:10PM

Oh crap. This thread is going to cost me money...... Totally awesome. I especially LOVE The third piece. I need that in my life.

mark

Stooge · February 17, 2018 12:51AM

Absolutely stunning coins. Thanks for sharing...

Boosibri · February 17, 2018 1:18AM

What an amazing set

ricko · February 17, 2018 8:21AM

Now that is a very impressive collection.... Congratulations.... Cheers, RickO

BuffaloIronTail · February 17, 2018 8:32AM

@Boosibri said:
What an amazing set

Yeppers...........that mule team is worth way more than the cargo they're hauling!

Pete

coinsarefun · February 17, 2018 8:42AM

Fantastic set, congratulations !

tyler267 · February 17, 2018 2:33PM

Very nice cool items! I really like them.

AnkurJ · February 17, 2018 9:14PM

Very nice! Happy to see one of my previous examples in your set

mariner67 · February 17, 2018 9:19PM

Stunning!

ShadyDave · February 17, 2018 10:18PM

Sweet, the 6th is my favorite!

morgansforever · February 18, 2018 4:50AM

Good stuff, love them all!

DCW · February 18, 2018 5:23AM

This is a thread I'll revisit again and again...great pieces!

Paradisefound · February 18, 2018 8:50AM

WOW How long did it take to put together such a collection? They are amazing!

cardinal · February 18, 2018 9:43AM

@AnkurJ said:
Very nice! Happy to see one of my previous examples in your set

YES!! The 12-pointed star token bears the AnkurJ pedigree, and is a magnificent highlight of the collection!

@Paradisefound said:
WOW How long did it take to put together such a collection? They are amazing!

The token set has been a work in progress for five years now, and it still has a way to go. There are still 18 more mules needed for a complete collection of those. The mules are a subset of the overall set of "Libertas Americana Tokens of the U.S. Centennial," which can be seen here:

https://pcgs.com/SetRegistry/collectors-showcase/tokens-medals/libertas-americana-tokens-u-s-centennial/2054

Or, you can flip through the Digital Album here:

https://pcgs.com/SetRegistry/collectors-showcase/tokens-medals/libertas-americana-tokens-u-s-centennial/album/2054

Unknown · May 13, 2018 8:50AM

This content has been removed.

chumley · May 14, 2018 9:25AM

I bow to the master.....amazing set

Kudbegud · May 14, 2018 11:26AM

Fantastic acquisitions. You have dedication and persistence to have amassed all these. Good luck getting the other 18. A complete set would be an amazing feat.

Unknown · May 14, 2018 11:29AM

This content has been removed.

cardinal · May 14, 2018 6:26PM

@afford said:
I wouldn't call it dedication and persistence per say, I would describe it more as strong arming. But getting back to the coins at hand, they are sure purdy.

Uh, "strong arming??" Really?? I've spent over five years working to assemble the collection of Libertas Americana tokens, and those above are just 19 of the 126 in the collection at this point. It has taken a great deal of time and dedication to get the collection up to this point, and it still has quite a way to go. Frankly, I had to search through multiple different references just to identify the parameters of the collection, as the topic of Libertas Americana tokens has never before been fully researched and assembled into a comprehensive reference.

steveben · May 14, 2018 6:43PM

what a bummer...every single one has "july" spelled wrong.

oh well...nice medals!

DCW · May 14, 2018 6:44PM

Strong arming?
I think @cardinal deserves an explanation

Kudbegud · May 14, 2018 8:19PM

@DCW said:
Strong arming?
I think @cardinal deserves an explanation

I don't understand the "strong arm" comment either.

Justacommeman · May 14, 2018 8:52PM

@afford said:
I wouldn't call it dedication and persistence per say,

I would call exactly that. His research and knowledge take a back seat to nobody.

mark

cardinal · May 14, 2018 9:10PM

Thanks Mark! I do try to do my best with research, and new discoveries (or re-discoveries) can be very interesting.

Here is a recent acquisition. My French is not so good, but I still just had to have this:

This document has not been noted in any other reference I am aware of, but it appears to be the single earliest published announcement of Benjamin Franklin's Libertas Americana medals. The translation goes as follows:

Following the Paris News: March 3rd.
If ever an event deserves to be retraced on a lasting Monument, it is without doubt the War of America and the recognition of its Independence, which was the result. Consequently Mr. Franklin has a Medal struck here, relative to these great events: It represents Hercules in the Cradle, suffocating two Serpens: A Leopard, surprised by his strength, wants to throw himself on him: He is repulsed by France, which, under the figure of Minerva, presents to him his Shield, on which are three fleurs de lys. At the bottom are the years 1777 & 1781, epochs of the armed capitulations of Burgoyne & Conwallis, represented by the two Serpens. In Reverse is Liberty, under the Emblem of a Beautiful Woman, & in the Exergue: Libertas Americana

And for those watching....No, I did not strong arm anyone to acquire this!!

northcoin · May 14, 2018 9:54PM

Thanks for including the translation. I suspect an original of the one described in the March 1783 publication resides here:

Unfortunately the "collections" located in the older building were closed (and likely to remain so until well into 2019 during the building's extended remodeling) when these photos were taken for me by a family member last month)

Justacommeman · May 14, 2018 9:57PM

@cardinal said:

And for those watching....No, I did not strong arm anyone to acquire this!!

but how much can you bench press?

m

cardinal · May 14, 2018 10:14PM

@Justacommeman said:

@cardinal said:

And for those watching....No, I did not strong arm anyone to acquire this!!

but how much can you bench press?

m

Only 175. When I need backup, my workout partner accompanies me...he benches 300 easily!

Justacommeman · May 14, 2018 10:18PM

@cardinal my French is pretty rusty but such a great pick up.

I thought you might enjoy this. I picked this up in Paris at a flea market about 18 years ago. Dumas's sequel to The Three Musketeers.

mark

cardinal · May 15, 2018 10:18AM

@Justacommeman said:
@cardinal my French is pretty rusty but such a great pick up.

I thought you might enjoy this. I picked this up in Paris at a flea market about 18 years ago. Dumas's sequel to The Three Musketeers.

mark

That's a lovely volume! A number of years ago, I purchased a 3-volume set of the French Lettres d'un Cultivateur Americain published in 1787. Included was this title page for Volume 2:

Libertas Americana Mule Team

Comments

Leave a Comment