Numismatic Artwork
Large Color Lithograph of "Washington Inspecting the First Money Coined by the United States" by John Ward Dunsmore. AO-Unlisted. Glass fronted frame. Choice About Uncirculated.
A 23.5 inches x 16 inches print within a 30.5 inches by 24.5 inches frame. Double matted. A vibrant and well preserved example. This item is unlisted in the Orosz and Augsburger reference The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint and came to light after the book was published in 2011. This reference points out that the original was painted by J.W. Dunsmore in 1914 and is currently owned by the City of Philadelphia. This fantastical scene was evolved by Dunsmore over seven iterations including two in pencil, two in pastels, two in watercolors, and eventually the final version in oil. The original is on permanent loan to Independence National Historical Park, who subsequently loaned it to the Fourth United States Mint for display in their mezzanine museum. This particular example is likely not a Frank Stewart-related emission, but clearly was printed from the same production materials. The Osborne Co. stock number has been effaced, but the remainder of the title is identical to other printings of "Washington Inspecting."
From the Collection of Leonard Augsburger, co-author of The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint.
Estimate: $1000