"1871" (1873) George F. Robinson Medal. Bronze. 77 mm. Julian PE-27. Mint State.

Choice save for a few wispy handling marks and faint carbon flecks. Handsome medium brown patina throughout. This medal was struck to commemorate George F. Robinson, a soldier who was assigned to protect William H. Seward, the secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln. On the night of April 14, 1865, Lewis Powell, a co-conspirator to John Wilkes Booth, attempted to assassinate Seward in his Washington, D.C. home. That very night President Lincoln had gone to Ford's Theater and was assassinated by Booth. Although Seward was attacked by Powell and suffered considerable stab wounds, he survived. Several of his children were also wounded, along with Robinson. These medals were issued with the obverse showing Robinson's bust left, the reverse with a wild scene of Seward in bed (still recuperating from a recent carriage accident) and Robinson defending against the knife-wielding Powell. The base of the reverse is signed in tiny letters G.Y. COFFIN DES. and PAQUET F. for famed medal engraver Anthony C. Paquet. It is believed that fewer than 100 of these were struck in bronze, and this example is one of the nicest that we have offered in recent sales.