The 2026 Libertas Americana: Reimagined by the Paris Mint for America's 250th | GOVMINT

Benjamin Franklin personally commissioned the original Libertas Americana medal in 1783, choosing the best sculptor and the best mint in the world to tell every European monarch that a new nation had ended a monarchy. Now, 250 years later, the Paris Mint has reimagined that medal with an all-new obverse by chief engraver Joaquin Jimenez, portraying Lady Liberty fully realized from the youthful figure on the original, standing alongside France in a tribute to America's oldest alliance. The Libertas Americana is the most famous medal in American numismatic history. Commissioned by Benjamin Franklin in 1783 and struck by the Monnaie de Paris, it was designed to celebrate the American victory in the Revolutionary War and to announce the new nation's independence to every European court. Franklin chose sculptor Augustin Dupre, one of the finest engravers of his era, and ensured the medal reached the collections of European monarchs as a deliberate statement: a former colony had ended a monarchy. The original medal's symbolism runs deep. The obverse shows Liberty in motion, her hair flowing behind her with the pileus, the ancient Roman cap given to emancipated slaves, symbolizing freedom. The reverse tells a layered mythological story: Minerva (representing France) shields baby Hercules (representing America) from a lioness whose tail is between her legs, a literal depiction of Britain as a cowardly lion. The two snakes Hercules holds in his cradle represent the British armies of General Burgoyne and Lord Cornwallis, defeated at the Battles of Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781), both dates inscribed in the exergue. As the video explains, every Liberty cap design on 18th century American coinage was taken directly from the Libertas Americana. For America's 250th anniversary, the Paris Mint has created a new edition featuring an all-new obverse designed by its current chief engraver, Joaquin Jimenez. This 2026 Libertas Americana portrays Lady Liberty fully grown from the youthful figure on the original, standing alongside France in a tribute to the enduring friendship between the two nations. The coin is struck in stunning high relief with an antique finish, showcasing the extraordinary craftsmanship the Paris Mint has maintained since its founding in 864 AD. Each piece is certified by NGC in MS70 condition with a First Day of Issue designation and exclusive labels, offering collectors the highest standard of quality and preservation. The video features commentary from both an American numismatic historian and a representative of the Paris Mint, who reflects on Dupre's legacy and the philosophy behind striking ideas into metal. As one speaker notes, papers can be lost or burned, documents disappear, but the metal remains. The coin remains. 0:00 Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of the Libertas Americana 0:50 The Reverse: Baby Hercules, Minerva, and the Cowardly Lion 1:07 The Obverse: Liberty in Motion and the Pileus 1:47 The Two Snakes: Burgoyne at Saratoga, Cornwallis at Yorktown 2:18 How the Libertas Americana Shaped American Coinage 2:58 Augustin Dupre: The Master Engraver Behind the Medal 3:14 Engravers as Witnesses to History 3:47 The Art of Striking an Idea Into Metal 4:49 What Would Dupre Do Today? 5:33 The 2026 Libertas Americana: New Obverse by Joaquin Jimenez 6:18 NGC MS70 First Day of Issue Certification ―――――――――――― 📬 GET OUR FREE CATALOG Request a free GOVMINT catalog and get new releases delivered to your door: https://www.govmint.com/catalog-request 📚 LEARN MORE Explore our Learn section for more coin history, mint guides, and collecting tips: https://www.govmint.com/learn 🪙 SHOP US COINS https://www.govmint.com/us-coins ―――――――――――― 🔔 Subscribe for weekly coin history, exclusive features, mint guides, and collecting content:    / govmint   #LibertasAmericana #ParisMint #America250 #CoinCollecting #Numismatics #GOVMINT