Captain John Paul Jones Naval Medal

after 1840

Place madeParis, France, Europe

Silver

Overall (diameter): 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm)

INV.2669

This is a silver restrike of one of the "Comitia Americana" medals awarded by Congress to heroes of the Revolutionary War between 1776 and 1781. Captain John Paul Jones was voted a gold medal by Congress in 1779, which was engraved by Augustin Dupre and executed in Paris. The dies for the medal were kept in Paris, where restrikes have been made for collectors since the 1790s.

DescriptionSilver strike of medal awarded by Congress to John Paul Jones; obverse with legend "JOANNI PAVLO JONES CLASSIS PRAEFECTO" and "COMITIA AMERICANA" with bust of Jones facing right; reverse with legend "HOSTIVM NAVIBVS CAPTIS AVT FVGATIS" and "AD ORAM SCOTIAE XXIII. SEPT. M.DCCLXXVIII" with image of naval combat.

Markingsmarked: on obverse in truncation of bust: "DUPRE" marked: on rim: "ARGENT"

ClassificationsMEDALS