CRISPUS ATTUCKS IN NUMMIS

Crispus Attucks in Nummis

Crispus Attucks (c. 1723-1770), per Wikipedia, is widely regarded as the first person killed in the Boston Massacre and thus the first American killed in the American Revolution. Historians disagree on whether he was a free man or an escaped slave, but most agree that he was of Natick and African descent.

Within numismatics, Attucks was most notably depicted on the U.S. Mint 1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Silver Dollar, with the portrait of Attucks engraved by John Mercanti. The Eric P. Newman papers reveal two other examples. Attucks was featured in the American Negro Commemorative Society Series in August 1969, manufactured by the Franklin Mint in a 39mm silver proof format. Attucks also shows up in the American Patriots Series, these pieces were issued by the Beam Distilling Company and attached to Beam bottles. This piece is 32mm, in bronze, with Attucks included in July 1970. Again, these were produced by the Franklin Mint, along with many other Bicentennial-themed issues.

Image: obverse of 1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Silver Dollar featuring Crispus Attucks

Link to Newman file on the American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission, detailing Franklin Mint Bicentennial issues:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/567391

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEGRO COMMEMORATIVE SOCIETY MEDALS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n08a31.html)

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