Washingtoniana
Circa 1816 Halliday Medal. Musante GW-57, Baker-70. White Metal. Plain edge. Plain rims. SP-62 (PCGS).
53.5 mm. 671.4 grains. Bright virtually aluminum-like surfaces with suggestions of pale blue overtones. Boldly prooflike in the recesses of the legends and close to the devices, providing aesthetically pleasing outlines to the designs. The slightly duller gray and more vulnerable field areas exhibit only minor handling but are peppered with micro-pesting. Regardless, the eye appeal is superior to nearly all seen, except for perhaps the striking example from the Baker Collection we sold in November 2019. Most white metal examples we have seen have ornamented rims, like Baker’s. The ones with plain rims, as here, apparently are quite a bit rarer. This one is also from an earlier die state than others recently examined. An exceptional opportunity to acquire an outstanding white metal Halliday. This is one of three white metal specimens that appeared in our November 1992 (Bowers and Merena) sale, remarkably, part of a specialized collection of Hallidays. This was the only plain rim variant and the first offered. The second was described as having a “zig-zag” rim ornamentation, and the third an “engine-turned” pattern, like “Garrett:1760.” It is unclear what the distinction was between the second and third medals, as the Garrett piece has a “zig-zag” pattern on the rim, just like the one in the Baker cabinet. We are aware of another rim pattern on a white metal Halliday, but the only example the writer is aware of appeared in our May 2008 Minot Sale.
PCGS# 826116.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of November 1992, lot 2128.
Estimate: $5000