The Period of Intercolonial Wars The Period of Intercolonial Wars

The Period of Intercolonial Wars

After the period of colonization had ended in America, wars began to break out within the colonies. These wars are referred to at the Intercolonial Wars. It isn’t that the colonies hated each other, but the French, English, and Spanish governments were encouraging their colonies to take over more land and possessions. That led to fighting across the pond. These medals were produced to commemorate the spoils that were taken on expeditions into other colonies. A lot of these medals will be celebrating specific Generals and leaders, as well as the event. The events celebrated are often shown on the reverse.

The Franco-American Jetons of Louis XV that are featured in this category are divided into two main types: the first is used as a form of trade between the American colonies and France and were produced to evoke the sense of prosperity in the New World. The second type was designed to speak more to the goals of France in the New World. These would include conquest to gain new land and to dominate the American continent. These Jetons were produced annually, beginning in 1751 and ceased production after the French were defeated by the British in Canada a number of years later.

Great Britain, on the other hand, infrequently produced medals that symbolized or showed the colonist. Many of the English medals were centered around presentations to the Native Americans and around the exploits of the new world. The approach to these two medals by these two countries is much different. France showed colonist who loved and supported the mother-country. Great Britain showed riches because their colonist were unhappy. The book by Charles Betts, American Colonial History Illustrated By Contemporary Medals (1894), probably says it best: "the English Colonist always dreamed of independence; the French never.The Medals described in this Chapter abundantly confirm this view."

King George's War

From an American perspective, the period of King George’s War offers just one medallic memorial of particular note, the 1746 Annapolis Tuesday Club medal. There are no medals struck in this period that commemorate or otherwise acknowledge any of the land campaigns in North America or even any of the naval engagements that disturbed colonial trade at the time.

This lack of medallic tribute is all the more surprising given the rather desperate nature of some of the battles and the importance of their outcomes for the future on the continent. One might have thought that the siege and capture of Fortress Louisbourg by a combined colonial army and homeland navy would have occasioned a series of medals struck in honor of the event. Unfortunately, such was not the case. The prize was returned to France by the terms of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle only to be recaptured a decade later.

Medals for Anson’s circumnavigation of the globe have only a peripheral l'elevance to North American history. Capture of the plate fleet two years earlier, in 1745, had nothing to do with North American history and only justify its medallic presence in Betts by expediently pretending that “America” really includes both continents in the western hemisphere. The 1748 Compagnie des Indes medal are French jetons struck for local consumption in a provincial town. On the other hand, the medals struck to commemorate the peace treaty that ended the war are legitimate “American” collectables since they did mark an ending to one phase of the imperialist struggle to control North American commerce.

The French and Indian War

When it became clear to the European powers that the stalemate of the previous war was likely to be repeated when dynastic ambitions once again turned to warfare for their achievement, French and English planners looked to the North American continent for fresh fields on which to play out their games of conquest. That the contest would be uneven right from the beginning could not have been hard to imagine and while the belligerents might be evenly matched on the European field, English power was more readily projected overseas. The French and Indian War was a replay of King George’s War with outcomes inevitably similar.

The medallic history of the war is far richer than that of any other conflict on North American soil and of any in which the later government of the United States participated until the American Civil War. The majority of the medals struck during this period that reflect events in the war of significance to North America were English. The few French medals made at this time reflect the unhappy fortunes of French arms during the war.

Unlike King George’s war, which was entirely lacking in medallic tributes to important military engagements in North America, the English took care to note in medallic form the fall of many important towns and forts.

The final capture of Fortress Louisbourg saw a series of major medals struck for the occasion. The falls of Oswego, Frontenac, and Niagara were jointly noted on a series of medals while the capture of the island bastion of Guadeloupe and the siege of Morro Castle in Havana saw medals made by several engravers for public sale including the sole medal made by Spain. The death of General Wolfe and the capture of Quebec and Montreal, followed by the surrender of French forces in Canada, were all commemorated on medals.

The single most significant development of this period in the medallic history of the wars on the North American continent is the appearance of medals designed, engraved, and struck locally in honor of local military accomplishment. Chief among these are the 1756 Kittanning Destroyed medal and the series of medals made for presentation to agreeable native American leaders. These medals seem to mirror in their own way the growing confidence in their own abilities that was the single most important outcome for European residents of British North America of the French and Indian War. Self confidence, a new sense of their identity as different from those in the homelands they had left, and the relaxation of the stress generated by living close to a neighbor whose ambitions were hostile to their own, all led the newly self-aware Americans to the inevitable break with the homeland that would come just a bit more than a decade later. In their own ways, the medals made by Americans for Americans reflect this trend.

The Period of Intercolonial Wars Betts Medals include Betts-381 to Betts-447.

Betts-3811745 Spanish Plate Fleet Captured Medal
Betts-381
1745 Spanish Plate Fleet Captured Medal
Obverse Text:

IULII • X • | MDCCXLV • | LE | PF | MA | I • KIRK • F •

Reverse Text:

VENIEBUNT LONDO | OCT • 1 • ET • II | MDCCXLV | I KIRK F | IAC •…

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Betts-3821747 Lord Anson's Circumnavigation of the Globe Medal
Betts-382
1747 Lord Anson's Circumnavigation of the Globe Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGE LORD ANSON • VICT • MAY III MDCCXLVII | T • PINGO • F •

Reverse Text:

CIRCVMNA VIGATION | MDCCXL MDCCXLIV | KEPPEL | SAVMAREZ | SAVNDERS | BRETT…

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Betts-3851751 Franco-American Jeton, Standing Indian Among Lilies with No Alligator
Betts-385
1751 Franco-American Jeton, Standing Indian Among Lilies with No Alligator
Obverse Text:

LUD • XV • REX | CHRISTIANISS | D • V •

Reverse Text:

SUB OMNI SIDERE CRESCUNT • | COL • FR • DE | L'AM • 1751 •

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Betts-3861752 Franco-American Jeton, Mercury Over the Seas Medal
Betts-386
1752 Franco-American Jeton, Mercury Over the Seas Medal
Obverse Text:

LUD • XV • REX CHRISTIANISS | B • DUVIV

Reverse Text:

UTRIQUE FACIT COMMERCIA MUNDI | COL • FRANC • DE L'AM • 1752 | C •…

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Betts-3871752 Franco-American Jeton, Compagnie des Indes and Mercury over the Seas Medal
Betts-387
1752 Franco-American Jeton, Compagnie des Indes and Mercury over the Seas Medal
Obverse Text:

PROTEGIT ET PASCIT | 1752

Reverse Text:

UTRIQUE FACIT COMMERCIA MUNDI • | COL • FRANC • DE L'AM • 1752

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Betts-3891754 Franco-American Jeton, Busy Beavers Medals
Betts-389
1754 Franco-American Jeton, Busy Beavers Medals
Obverse Text:

LUD • XV • REX CHRISTIANISS • | F M •

Reverse Text:

NON INFERIORA METALLIS • | COL • FRANC • DE | L'AM • 1754 • | C…

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Betts-3901755 Franco-American Jeton, The Argo Medal
Betts-390
1755 Franco-American Jeton, The Argo Medal
Obverse Text:

LUD • XV • REX CHRISTIANISS • | f | m

Reverse Text:

NON VILIUS AUREO • | COL • FRANC • DE | LAM • 1755 •

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Betts-3941757 Franco-American Jeton, Mars and Neptune Medal
Betts-394
1757 Franco-American Jeton, Mars and Neptune Medal
Obverse Text:

LUD • XV • REX CHRISTIANISS | R • FIL •

Reverse Text:

PARAT ULTIMA TERRA TRIUMPHOS • | COL • FRANC • | DE L'AMERIQUE | 1757…

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Betts-3961753 George II British Indian Medal
Betts-396
1753 George II British Indian Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGIVS • II • D : G : MAG : BRI : FRA : ET • H : REX • F • D…

Reverse Text:

DIEU • ET • MON • DROIT •

What to Look For: ANS 1917.137.3. Images courtesy of the American Numismatic Society.
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Betts-3971757 Eltons Trading Post Medal
Betts-397
1757 Eltons Trading Post Medal
Obverse Text:

THE RED MEN COME TO ELTONS DAILY.

Reverse Text:

SKINS BOUGHTS AT ELTONS 1757.

What to Look For: ANS 1913.27.1. Images courtesy of the American Numismatic Society.
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Betts-3981754 Academy of San Marcos Medal
Betts-398
1754 Academy of San Marcos Medal
Obverse Text:

1754 | A

Reverse Text:

A C Æ M. S. M. URB. REG. IN. PERU. SM

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Betts-3991754 Academy of San Marcos Medal
Betts-399
1754 Academy of San Marcos Medal
Obverse Text:

1754 | R

Reverse Text:

A C Æ M. S. M. URB. REG. IN. PERU. SM

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Betts-4001756 Kittanning Destroyed Medal
Betts-400
1756 Kittanning Destroyed Medal
Obverse Text:

KITTANNING DESTROYED BY COLL • ARMSTRONG • | SEPTEMBER • 8 • | 1756

Reverse Text:

THE GIFT OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

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Betts-4031758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Betts-403
1758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Obverse Text:

ADML • BOSCAWEN • TOOK • CAPE • BRETON

Reverse Text:

LOUISBOURG | IUL 26 1758

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Betts-4041758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Betts-404
1758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Obverse Text:

ADML • BOSCAWEN • TOOK • CAPE • BRETON

Reverse Text:

LOUISBOURG | IUL 26 1758

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Betts-4061758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Betts-406
1758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Obverse Text:

ADML • BOSCAWEN • TOOK • CAPE • BRETON

Reverse Text:

LOUISBURG HARBOUR | IUL 26 1758

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Betts-4071758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Betts-407
1758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Obverse Text:

TO BRAVE ADML • BOSCAWEN •

Reverse Text:

I SURRENDER PRISONER • | 1758

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Betts-4091758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Betts-409
1758 Boscawen at Louisbourg Medal
Obverse Text:

ADML BOSCAWEN TOOK CAPE BRETON

Reverse Text:

LOUISBOURG | IUL 26 1758

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Betts-4101758 Louisbourg Taken Medal
Betts-410
1758 Louisbourg Taken Medal
Obverse Text:

PARTIER • IN • BELLA | T • PINGO • F • | CANADA | AMERICA

Reverse Text:

LOVISBOVRG • TAKEN • MDCCLVIII

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Betts-4151758 Oswego Captured Medal
Betts-415
1758 Oswego Captured Medal
Obverse Text:

LUDOVICUS XV ORBIS IMPERATOR | 1758

Reverse Text:

WESEL OSWEGO PORTMAHON | EXPUG • STI. DAVIDIS | ARCE ET SOLO | ÆQUATA

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Betts-4161758 British Victories of 1758 Medal
Betts-416
1758 British Victories of 1758 Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGIUS • II • REX •

Reverse Text:

FŒDUS — INVICTUM • | MDCCLVIII • | SENEGAL • MAI • 2 • | S •…

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Betts-4171759 Guadeloupe Taken Medal
Betts-417
1759 Guadeloupe Taken Medal
Obverse Text:

GVADALVPE • SVRRENDERS | MAY • I • MDCCLIX •

Reverse Text:

MOORE | BARRINGTON | SOC • PROM • ARTS | AND • COMMERCE

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Betts-4181759 British Victories of 1759 Medal
Betts-418
1759 British Victories of 1759 Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGIUS • II • REX •

Reverse Text:

GUADALOUPE | NIAGARA | QUEBEC | CROWN POINT | BARRINGT. MOORE | IOJNSON |…

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Betts-4191759 British Victories of 1758 and 1759 Medal
Betts-419
1759 British Victories of 1758 and 1759 Medal
Obverse Text:

FŒDUS — INVICTUM • | MDCCLVIII • | SENEGAL • MAI • 2 • | S •…

Reverse Text:

GUADALOUPE | NIAGARA | QUEBEC | CROWN POINT | BARRINGT. MOORE | IOJNSON |…

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Betts-4211759 Quebec Taken Medal
Betts-421
1759 Quebec Taken Medal
Obverse Text:

BRITANNIA | SAVNDERS | WOLFE

Reverse Text:

QVEBEC • TAKEN • MDCCLIX • | SOC • P • A • C •

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Betts-4251759 Allied Commanders Medal
Betts-425
1759 Allied Commanders Medal
Obverse Text:

·:· ·:· ·:· KING GEORGE ·:· THE • II • FRED ·:· KING ·:· OF…

Reverse Text:

H • WILM • PITT | PRINCE FERDINAND | PRINCE HENRY | DUKE BRUNSWIG | ADM…

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Betts-4271760 Triumphs Everywhere Medal
Betts-427
1760 Triumphs Everywhere Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGIUS • II • D • G • MAG • BR • FR • ET • HIB • REX…

Reverse Text:

TRIUMPHA UBIQUE | I • D • F • | ASIA | AFRICA | AMERI | EUR | GU :…

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Betts-4291760 Montreal Taken Medal
Betts-429
1760 Montreal Taken Medal
Obverse Text:

THE CONQVEST OF CANADA COMPLEATED | AMHERST

Reverse Text:

MONTREAL TAKEN MDCCLX | PROMOTING ARTS | AND COMMERCE

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Betts-4341760 French Privateers Repulsed Medal
Betts-434
1760 French Privateers Repulsed Medal
Obverse Text:

None

Reverse Text:

THIS MEDALL GIVEN BY THE UNDERWRITERS TO THE BEARER CAPTAIN JAMES WEIR OF…

What to Look For: Image courtesy of © The Yale University Art Gallery
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Betts-437Undated (1776-1814) George III Indian Peace Medal
Betts-437
Undated (1776-1814) George III Indian Peace Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA .

Reverse Text:

DIEU • ET • MON • DROIT | HONI SOIT QUI • MAL Y • PENSE

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Betts-440Undated (1761) King George III and Queen Charlotte Medal
Betts-440
Undated (1761) King George III and Queen Charlotte Medal
Obverse Text:

None

Reverse Text:

HONI • SOIT • QUI • MAL • Y • PENSE | DIEU • ET • MON •…

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Betts-4411762 British Victories of 1762 Medal
Betts-441
1762 British Victories of 1762 Medal
Obverse Text:

GEORGIUS • TERTIVS • REX

Reverse Text:

PAX | AUSPICATA | NOV • 3 | WALES BO | AUG • 12 | HERMIONE | MAY 31 |…

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Betts-4421762 European Hopes for Peace Medal
Betts-442
1762 European Hopes for Peace Medal
Obverse Text:

EVROPAE ALAMAM NE TARDET PACEM | MDCCLXII

Reverse Text:

DVRET VSQVE AD EXTREMVM | J • G • HOLTZHEY • FRC •

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Betts-4431763 Defense of Morro Castle Medal
Betts-443
1763 Defense of Morro Castle Medal
Obverse Text:

LVDOVICO DE VELASCO ET VINCENTIO GONZALEZ | PRIETO

Reverse Text:

IN • MORRO • VIT • GLOR • FVNCT • | ARTIVM ACADEMIA | CAROLO REGE…

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Betts-4441763 Peace of Paris Medal
Betts-444
1763 Peace of Paris Medal
Obverse Text:

LUDOVICUS SV REX CHRISTIANISS | B • DUVIVIER • F •

Reverse Text:

PAX UBIQUE VICTRIX | GALLORUM ET BRITANNORUM | CONCORDIA | MDCCLXIII • |…

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Betts-4461763 Peace of Hubertusburg Medal
Betts-446
1763 Peace of Hubertusburg Medal
Obverse Text:

NUNCIA PACIS | D • 15 • FEBR • MDCCLXII | ŒXLEIN

Reverse Text:

IAM REDIRE AUDIT • | GERMANIA PACATA •

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Betts-4471763 Peace of Hubertusburg Medal
Betts-447
1763 Peace of Hubertusburg Medal
Obverse Text:

NUNCIA PACIS | D • 15 • FEBR • MDCCLXII | ŒXLEIN | LOOS

Reverse Text:

IAM REDIRE AUDIT • | GERMANIA PACATA •

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