SOLD
29,000.00USD+ buyer's premium (5,800.00)
This item SOLD at 2020 Feb 28 @ 20:20UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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Captain William Bainbridge. U.S.S. Constitution, 44 guns v. H.M.S. Java, 49 guns. 29 December, 1812. Silver. Julian NA-4. Extremely Fine.
64.5 mm. 4.0 mm. thickness at rim. Dies by Moritz Furst. Bold collaring mark or “witness line” precisely at 12 o’clock on the rim. Edge engraved: Dr. J.D. Armstrong U.S. Ship Constitution in fancy Spencerian script. This medal directly connects the original recipient, Naval officer Armstrong, to the event memorialized by the medal, and to the very decks of Old Ironsides as she defeated her English foe in grand style. We know of no other presented specimens of this medal. Medium steel-gray throughout with a hint of reflectivity in the fields and with warm blue toning present when viewed in a bold light source. Minimally marked and with nothing more than some minor rim ticks, this specimen has much to commend it both physically and aesthetically. We note a shallow, old scratch that serves to underline ELMUS BAINBRID on the obverse, but it has long-ago toned and is difficult to see at first glance. Small nicks are seen in the right field and on Bainbridge’s cheek, but all occurred so long ago as to be easily excusable.
One of the rarest prizes among United States Naval medals, the silver Bainbridge medal survives today in small numbers from an unknown original quantity struck. In the Ford Part V catalog (Stack’s, October, 2004), the writer noted “there is no published census for the Bainbridge medal in silver.” Seemingly, this rarity was represented at Dreyfuss:5302, Stack’s:5563 (January, 2009), and also the Ford:167 piece, but no others have seen the light of day in recent memory – until this specimen. Notably absent from the Garrett and Bushnell sales, this rare silver Naval medal is easily High Rarity-7 to Rarity-8! Bidding will be extreme for this rarity – not that we need to inform our bidders of that fact – and we expect a near-record price when the hammer drops on this memorable lot.
Perhaps the most famous of all U.S. Navy warships, the U.S.S. Constitution or “Old Ironsides” still has its commission and is the oldest commissioned ship in any navy across the globe. Her keel was laid in 1794, and she took to the seas in 1797. On 29 December, 1812, Constitution, who had yet to earn her familiar nickname, was sailing some 30 nautical miles southeast of San Salvador according to reports of the era, when Captain Bainbridge espied two ships, one of which cut out to meet Constitution for an apparent skirmish, and Bainbridge was only too happy to oblige. After the usual maneuvers and hours of battle, the British ship Java -- actually a French ship that had been bested by British ships, renamed, and then commissioned by the British -- had been completely demasted and as many as 65 British lives were reported lost, along with hundreds of wounded. Constitution had her sails ripped and shredded, but nary a timber was broken or lost. During the melee, the wheel on Constitution was shattered by a cannonball, driving a small copper bolt into Bainbridge’s thigh, and he was also grazed in his hip by a musket ball. He stood the deck until well after midnight despite his wounds and saw to victory for his ship and mates. The Americans suffered nine dead and 25 wounded – our Dr. J.D. Armstrong was busy that day and for days afterward no doubt. Interestingly, Java was carrying British Lieutenant General Hyslop, his Generals of staff, and 100 and more soldiers enroute to the East Indies. Two days after the battle, Java was burned and scuttled, and her occupants taken aboard Constitution, as was the custom of the day.
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Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| GA |
8.9% |
GA Sales Tax |
| DC |
5.75% |
DC Sales Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
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