1906 Benjamin Franklin Bicentennial Medal Reverse Design. Uniface. Bronze Galvanic Cast. 320 mm (12.5 inches). By Augustus and Louis Saint-Gaudens. Greenslet GM-119, Baxter 81, var. Nearly As Made.

A fascinating bronze casting showing the reverse design of this medal in a format greatly enlarged from the 100 mm size of the medals struck by Tiffany and the U.S. Mint. The plaque is faithful to Louis Saint-Gaudens' design as seen on the final struck medals, though with minor differences in relative placement and rendering of the devices and legends. For example, in comparison to the struck medal, the letters are bolder, the olive branch laying on the ground does not quite reach the top of the second step, and the form of Saint-Gaudens' monogram is different. We reached out to Michael Moran, author of the 2008 work Striking Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to help put this reverse design in context. The Franklin Bicentennial medal was Louis Saint-Gaudens' commission, though Augustus helped Louis in the initial design stages. Louis completed the plaster models of both obverse and reverse by August 1905, turning them over to his brother and then went "west," leaving the medal in the hands of Augustus for completion. At this point, Augustus made various modifications to the model before forwarding to Deitsch brothers for preparation of the dies. The process had dragged through January 1906, and since the medal was commissioned by Congress with a gold example to be given to the French state, approval fell under the auspices of the State Department, which by February 10 was pleading with Augustus for the plaster casts, as he had kept the design under wraps up to that point. Again he put off the State Department, telling them that the reverse was unsatisfactory and that he was making a new one. On February 15, he released the design that is now on the medal. Moran believes the galvano in this lot to be the penultimate version that Augustus Saint-Gaudens, ever the tinkerer, felt needed modification, which he accomplished between February 10 and February 15, 1906. Given that the final version in the form of the medal that features lettering and fine details that are a bit more delicate and proportional, we believe that it is quite likely that the current galvano represents the reverse version immediately prior to Augustus's tinkering. The face of the galvano has been given a fascinating finish, which we have not seen before on any medal, that imparts a nearly three-dimensional appearance to the piece. What appear to be ridges and valleys on the surface are actually flat surfaces which have been enhanced with varying intensities of toning. The high points of the design elements were hand finished to intensify the contrast between the background and the major design elements, leaving them with a brighter golden-brass patina. Overall the piece possesses a dramatic, vibrant appearance. The back shows vague incuse outlines representing the relief figures on the face of the plaque, and two loops with a wire attachment provide a convenient device from which the plaque can be hung on a wall. Rather remarkably, in March of 2018, we offered another version of this piece, essentially the same as to size and design, but with a typical medallic chocolate-brown bronze patina instead of this much more eye-catching finish. It sold for $16,800. In recent times we have seen an increased interest in the lovely beaux-arts medals, including this 1906 Saint-Gaudens masterpiece. Here is a chance to own a very rare galvano of the penultimate design variation that is ready made for display and enjoyment in home or office.