Libertas Americana

Conceived and financed by Benjamin Franklin, American ambassador to France, this medal pays homage to the pivotal role of the French during America's War of Independence. Gold specimens were sent to the French king and queen and silver ones given to French ministers and the president of the Continental Congress; a limited number of silver and larger number of bronze examples were also distributed. The dates on the medal's reverse refer to the Franco-American victories at Saratoga and Yorktown, respectively, and the imagery presents the personification of France protecting America, the fledgling demi-god Hercules, from the English lion. Although the reverse is signed by Dupré, the attribution is complicated by the possible collaboration in the design by Esprit-Antoine Gibelin and Clodion.

Source: Scher, Stephen K., et al. The Scher Collection of Commemorative Medals. New York and London, 2019.