Catalog Reference

Adams-42

Engraver: Unsigned
Composition: White Metal
Size: 35.0 mm
Weight: 208.3 grains (13.50 grams)

Betts-141 is an extremely rare medal, one missing from every notable collection of John Law medals: LaRiviere, Ford, Adams, et al. Adams knew about it exclusively from an example in the Yale University collection (plated in the Adams monograph).

This is clearly a major rarity in the series, but also one of the more interesting pieces. The 1721 is in chronogram, which is to say, represented in Roman numerals by larger capital letters throughout the legend. Adams' translation of the legends suggests just how spicy this medal is. On the obverse, "in the month of January 1721, when the author, promoter, and executive of the great American mission went to Rome," paired with this on the reverse: "the deflation of the Mississippi Company shares is matched in folly by the king's dream of using the dregs of French society to convert the American Indians to Christianity." That's rich, and it's entirely unique in sentiment in the world of Law medals specifically or Betts medals generally. It's no wonder this medal is so rare. We trace zero appearances of other specimens of this medal.

"REDDENDA EX ACTIS LAVS LAVSO" translates to "Praise should be rendered to Law, from his acts."

"ROMAM CVM PETERET IA | NVARIO M. MISSIONIS | AMERICANAE AVTOR | ACTOR ET | FACTOR | AB | ACTIS | AD | FACTA" translates to "When the author, the promoter and the operator of the American Scheme sought Rom, in the month of January, 1721. From acts to facts."

"SPARSVS | IN ORBEM | VT REDEAT NVMMVS, | PROVIDVS ILLE FACIT: | AVREVS ATQVE ARGENTEVS | ET LVDOVICUS ET INDOS | CHRISTIANOS | FACIAT, | SEDVLVS | EFFICIET " translates to "EMoney is scattered throughout the world, that it may return in gold and silver; the prudent man does this! And Louis may even make the Indians Christians; if he is zealous, he will accomplish this."