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Lr. 857 — Louisbourg Taken. 1758. Silver.

Currency:CAD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:2,100.00 CAD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 7,500.00 CAD
Lr. 857 — Louisbourg Taken. 1758. Silver.
SOLD
7,250.00CAD+ (1,450.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2022 Apr 28 @ 18:55UTC-4 : AST/EDT

Buyer’s Premiums will be added on all items as per the Terms & Conditions of the sale. Invoices will be emailed out after all sessions of the Toronto Coin Expo Spring Sale have concluded.

McLachlan-369, Betts-410, Breton-49, Eimer-657. 43.6mm. 37.9g. Plain edge with loop soldered at 12 o’clock. Signed T. PINGO. Not too many entries in the Canadian historical medal series rival the significance or artistry of Thomas Pingo’s medal commemorating the British siege of Louisbourg in 1758. McLachlan called it “the best executed medal relating to the conquest of Canada. The design represents New England as a sailor rejoicing with the British soldier at the expulsion of France (the nude figure), from the American continent.” The reverse shows a spectacular naval scene with soldiers firing canons toward a flotilla descending on Louisbourg harbour. Examples exist in copper, silver, and gold, having been awarded to participants in battle according to rank. In a 2010 appearance, the Stack’s cataloguer described this medal as follows:

“This piece likely had an original loop at one time, an oval hanger that was quite similar to those found on early George III Indian Peace medals, but it was later replaced with this screw-type eye fastened into the rim. … Important not only as a contemporary commemorative struck to mark the battle that opened Canada to the British, but as a British military decoration as well. This piece likely has a more interesting story than a high-grade piece without a hanger or loop.”

Indeed, the Louisbourg Taken medal is one of, if not the earliest British Canadian military decorations. It is collected alongside other British military medals and is included in the annual Medal Yearbook published by Token Publishing. The 2020 edition notes the following: “More in the nature of a decoration, this medal was only given to certain recipients for acts of bravery or distinguished service in the capture in July 1758 of Louisbourg in Canada spring the Seven Years’ War.” The reference provides an estimate of £4500 to £5500 in silver.
Mostly brilliant surfaces exhibit areas of golden patina. They were cleaned at some point, explaining moderate brightness, and possibly lacquered. Scattered marks and traces of friction appear on each side, and there is a series of faint pinscratches in the field left of LOV(ISBOVRG). The historical significance of this lot cannot be overstated.
Ex: Americana Sale (Stack’s, 1/2004), lot 2434; Q. David Bowers Collection (Stack’s, 9/2009), lot 6047; Americana Sale (Stack’s, 9/2010), lot 4032; unknown intermediaries; John Kraljevich (1/2017).
From the Michael Joffre Collection of Canadian Historical Medals.