1779 Medal Rhode Island - No Wreath Below Ship Betts-562

Coin Details

Description

Designated Betts-562 in the standard reference for American historical medals, this bronze Rhode Island Ship medal belongs to the "No Wreath" die family — lacking the small wreath ornament found below the ship on the Betts-563 variety. Weighing 15 grams and measuring 32 mm in diameter with a plain edge, this scarce medal is cross-referenced as Whitman 8515 and PCGS #579. The Betts catalog number places it sequentially before the Wreath variety (Betts-563), reflecting the organizational system C. Wyllys Betts established in his 1894 reference work that remains the standard framework for collecting American colonial and Revolutionary War medals. The obverse depicts a ship navigating the waters near Rhode Island, commemorating the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island where American forces under General John Sullivan, supported by a French fleet under Comte d'Estaing, engaged British troops defending Newport. The reverse provides a cartographic view of Narragansett Bay and the surrounding coastline. Produced in the Netherlands for a European audience, these medals document the widespread international interest in the American Revolution, particularly in the Dutch Republic where support for the American cause was strong. This piece belongs to the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820) series and represents the bronze composition within the No Wreath group, which also includes pewter and other metal variants.

Rarity Notes

Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-562; Whitman 8515