Libertas Americana

Libertas Americana

France (for the United States)
Value	Non-circulating
Diameter	47-48 mm (1.85-1.89 in)
Edge	Plain
Composition	Gold, silver (.925 fine), copper/bronze
Gold	1.85  troy oz
Silver	1.47  troy oz
Years of minting	1783 (1783) (original) with modern strikes and reproductions
Mintage	Limited
Obverse
Design	Draped bust of Liberty facing left with flowing hair
Designer	Augustin Dupré, Benjamin Franklin
Reverse
Design	Infant Hercules (young America) strangling two serpents (representing British Generals Burgoyne and Cornwallis); Minerva defends with shield of fleur-de-lis against a lioness (Britian)
Designer	Esprit-Antoine Gibelin

The Libertas Americana was a medal made to commemorate the American Revolution. It was designed in part by Benjamin Franklin. ^{[1] [2]}

A Libertas Americana was showcased on season 15 of the American reality television series Pawn Stars . It was sold for $150,000. ^[3]

History

The medal was originally conceived by Benjamin Franklin after being asked to create a monument in honor of the Siege of Yorktown. Franklin outlined his idea in a letter to Robert Livingston on 4 March 1782. ^[4] The reverse design was further developed by Esprit-Antoine Gibelin and Augustin Dupré. ^{[5] [2]} The coin was minted in copper, silver and a couple of gold. The gold medals were lost in the French Revolution and were never found.

Design

The obverse of the medal features the goddess Liberty. Beside her is a pole adorned with a Phrygian cap. The reverse features the infant Hercules representing the United States being attacked by a lion representing the United Kingdom. The infant, who is shown strangling two snakes, is being protected by Athena who represents France. ^{[5] [6]} The reverse includes the motto NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS, from Horace's ode "Descende coelo", which translates to "The infant is not bold without the aide of the gods."

References

1. "Libertas Americana Medals". PCGS . Retrieved 10 January 2026.
2. "Libertas Americana". www.si.edu. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
3. "Pawn Stars". Pawn Stars - Youtube. 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
4. "The Libertas Americana Medal". artgallery.yale.edu. The Yale University Art Gallery. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
5. "Libertas Americana". National Museum of American History. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
6. "The Libertas Americana Medal 1781". coinauctionshelp.com. Retrieved 10 January 2026.