Mississippi Company Medal

Value of 1720 John Law and the Mississippi Company Medal

John Law, a promoter of questionable speculative enterprises in the Americans for the French, is negatively depicted in this medal. Obverse pictures Law himself, and around the image written, “Who, in this avarice, will allow himself to be carried away by this wind?” Law walks to the right with a pair of bellows that is shooting out certificates. The scroll from his mouth states, “Who buys shares?” and in exergue, “Be prudent and cautious in your transactions”. Reverse depicts a dog crossing a bridge, and looking down at his reflection drops a bundle of billets. The legends translates to “Shall not Aesop’s dog teach you a lesson?”