Gaspee Days Committee History FilesGaspee Commemorative Coins &
Medallions
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 Franklin Mint
1972This is a
suprisingly large and heavy coin produced the
Franklin Mint in 1972 as one of a set of 50 pewter
medals commemorating the History of Colonial
America. This particular coin is issue #43 and
portrays the burning of the British ship Gaspee
in resistance to British oppression.
Inscription on reverse reads:
The Bicentennial
Council of the Thirteen Original States The burning of the British Side: THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF COLONIAL AMERICA FINE PEWTER |
 Townshend
Act
Silver
coin, assumably part of a series by an unknown mint.
The detailed engraving portrays the Burning of the
Gaspee. "As a result of the prolonged Townshend Acts
Riots, angry colonists burn the British HMS Gaspee".
1.25 inches in diameter and hallmarked with reeded
edge. Minted in the 1970's. While, historically, the
burning of the Gaspee in 1772 was much removed from
a reaction to the Townshend Acts of 1767, we'll
enjoy the artwork.
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    Gaspee Days Committee 1972
The Gaspee Commemorative Coin was designed by Donald J. Breig, a Pawtuxet die cutter at the request of the Gaspee Days Committee. The obverse features the silhouette of the Gaspee surrounded by thirteen stars. The reverse shows the Independent Man and the legend, 'First Blow for Freedom'. On March 16, 1972, at Breig's die shop, 5 Aborn Street, Cranston, the Gaspee Day Bicentennial Commemorative Coin was struck. 1772 silver coins were made and sold for $10 each, and an unlimited number of copper coins were sold for $3 each. The first silver coin was delivered to Governor Frank Licht, accompanied by Cranston Mayor James L. Tait and Warwick Mayor Philip Noel. Another silver coin was hand delivered to President Richard Nixon in Washington for inclusion in the Smithsonian Institution. The dies for the coins were destroyed on December 31, 1972. Coin is silver or copper and is about the size of a US quarter |
    Rhode Island
Historical Society 1972
Beautiful
and impressive Bronze and Silver " Burning of the
Gaspee " Commemorative marking the 200th anniversary
of the historic event. Measuring
1.5 inches in diameter, the obverse shows a detailed
artistic rendition of the burning Gaspee. Reverse
shows the seal of the RI Historical Society. Minted in
1972 by the Franklin Mint, its population is limited
to only 1104. Both medallions are the same size,
though the photos have different image sizes.
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 Royal
Mint 1976
Sterling
silver medal (1 troy ounce) struck by the Royal Mint
of Great Britain for the American Express Company as
"Freedom Medals" for the American Bicentennial of
the Revolutionary War. Each is proof finished and
about 1.5 inches across. This medal depicts the
Gaspee in flames and includes appropriate words by
Samuel Adams in 1771: "The liberties of our country,
the freedom of our constitution, are worth defending
at all hazards."
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  Historic Mint of Long Island Discovered on eBay, 2011, Solid Sterling Silver 39 mm, apparently produced by the Historic Mint of Long Island, Ltd. as part of a series entitled "The Age of the American Revolution. Sculpted by Harry Rosin. This example is No. 00058 of the run as stamped on the edge. |
 Elongated Penny Gaspee 200th Anniversary Bought on eBay July 2015. Has elongated 1972 Lincoln head penny on obverse and instead of the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse, this 200th Anniversary commemoration is stamped onto an otherwise blank reverse. This was NOT authorized by the US Mint! And to our knowledge, unlike Brieg's Gaspee Commemorative Coin seen earlier above, the use of the copyrighted logo of the Gaspee Days Committee was not authorized either. This may have been a one-off sampling. |
  DAR,
Gaspee Chapter
Regent Pin,
Providence, RI, 1913. From an estate sale found
on eBay
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 Miller 1978 Gaspee
Pendant and EarringsThe Gaspee Day Committee commissioned Pawtuxet designer C. L. Miller to create appropriate commemorative gifts for our annual activities. Earring set (b), clutch pin (c), tie-tack (d), and larger pendant (a) were available in satin finished pewter, and were exclusively sold by the Gaspee Days Committee in 1978 |
 Bicentennial
Masonic Mug Metallic DecalThis small emblem was used on some commemorative items sold to members of the Rhode Island Masons in 1976. |
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