"1817" Amelia Island, Green Cross of Florida Medal. Bronze. Rulau E-Fla 10, BHM-957. Plain Edge. EF-45 (PCGS).

33 mm. A desirable example of this elusive and historic medal, quite a bit finer than any example we have seen previously. Both sides exhibit lovely even milk chocolate patina with slightly brighter high points. A few minor disturbances are noted in the central fields as well as a small rim bump at 10 o'clock on the obverse, but these are on the whole quite minimal and do not take away from the significant eye appeal. A significant rarity with perhaps just 15 to 20 examples extant. The Amelia Island medal is the most famous early historical medal relating to the present state of Florida, a decoration awarded by an army that barely existed from a country that was never founded. These medals were issued by Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish-born con man who once invaded Columbia and twice settled a colony in Nicaragua under his own flag. In 1817, he traveled throughout the U.S. to raise money to "capture" Amelia Island, Florida from the Spanish; he also raised a force of 150 men, only 55 of whom were present for the "invasion" of this spit of sand near the Georgia border. A shocked Spanish settlement gave up at the sight of MacGregor on June 29, 1817 (the date on the medal with the pompous legend VENI VIDI VICI), but in December the U.S. Army showed up to politely ask MacGregor to leave. Their orders instructed the troops to "remove from Amelia Island the persons who have lately taken possession thereof....to the great annoyance of the United States." The best study on these medals is Carling Gresham's monograph General Gregor Macgregor and the 1817 Amelia Island Medal, available from the ANA library, which names 13 known specimens including four in museum collections. MacGregor appears to have issued this medal between 1820 and 1823 as a fundraising device for his "colonization" of Nicaragua, whereby a "land purchase" for the as-yet unsettled country got the donor a title of Knight and recognition with the Green Cross of Florida, namely the medal seen here. Rarely offered, a prized piece of Florida exonumia.

PCGS# 910323.