1779 Medal Rhode Island - Wreath Below Ship Silvered

Coin Details

Description

Bearing a silvered surface over a bronze core, this Rhode Island Ship medal combines the "Wreath Below Ship" obverse die with a premium surface treatment that gives it a silver-white appearance distinct from the underlying bronze alloy. Weighing 15 grams and measuring 32 mm with a plain edge, the medal is cataloged as Whitman 8540 and PCGS #575. The silvering process — applying a thin layer of silver or tin to the medal's surface through chemical or mechanical means — was a decorative technique used by 18th-century minting establishments to produce medals with a more precious appearance at lower cost than solid silver strikings. Silvered specimens are rare within the Rhode Island Ship medal series because the silvered layer is delicate and subject to wear, and surviving examples with substantial original silvering intact are particularly prized. The obverse commemorates the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island with a depiction of a ship and the identifying wreath below, while the reverse maps Narragansett Bay. Produced in the Netherlands as part of the broader group of Revolutionary War commemorative medals, this silvered variant occupies a premium position in the metal-composition hierarchy of the series. This piece belongs to the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820) series and appeals to collectors seeking the complete range of compositions in which these historically significant medals were produced.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silvered surface.

Cross References

Whitman 8540