Federal Period
Exceptional 1800 Capt Thomas Truxtun Medal Julian NA-2 Likely The Finest of Only 25 Known NGC Graded MS-66
(1800) Captain Thomas Truxtun Medal. USS Constellation vs La Vengeance, Undeclared “Quazi” War With France. Julian NA-2. Struck at the United States Mint in Bronzed Copper. NGC graded Mint State-66 Brown.
57mm. 1657.8 grains. This important historic Naval Medal is struck from the Original Reverse Die and a Copy Obverse Die, at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, about 1860. The original obverse broke very early in its life, and fewer than 10 examples are thought to exist from that die. This medal has an exceptional sharp strike, boldly reflective fields, and superb appearing intricate details with even and beautiful lustrous natural chocolate-brown bronzing. This is a stunningly attractive Superb Gem specimen of this very scarce medal that is most desirable.

It is estimated that only 25 Medals such as this exist. No copper specimens are known to have been struck from the original obverse, and just one single Gold Presentation piece and a handful of white metal impressions are known. The Truxton medal is far more elusive than most of the War of 1812 medals, rarer even than original strikings of the renouned John Paul Jones medal, listed as Julian NA-1. It is important for at least two reasons: it is the first Naval medal struck at the United States Mint (The John Paul Jones medal was struck only at the Paris Mint until 1863), and it is also the only collectible United States Mint medal with dies engraved by Robert Scot, who also engraved most of the dies for Liberty Cap and Draped Bust coins.This obverse die is nearly identical to the original but for a curl above Truxtun's periwig. This example housed in a special Large Size White Custom NGC Display Holder. It was not represented, in any form, in the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection sales, and may likely ultimately prove to be the Finest Known.
The most advanced work on this 1800 Captain Thomas Truxtun Medal, Julian NA-2, was published in “The Numismatist” by the American Numismatic Association in February 2007. Therein, Christopher Neuzil, Leonard Vaccaro, and Todd Creekman explored the history of this medal's creation and the various manifestations it has taken to the present day. They estimate that only 25 Medals such as this exist; no copper specimens are known to have been struck from the original obverse, just the single gold presentation piece and a handful of white metal impressions.