Washingtoniana
Circa 1832 Birth Centennial Medal by Wright and Bale. Original reverse. Musante GW-127A, Baker-74A. White metal. Plain edge. SP-62 (PCGS).
45.1 mm. 614.7 grains. Mostly light pewter gray with slightly deeper gray patina on the more exposed areas of the design and an area of heavier patina left of the neck. Much of the field has a gently stippled and finely granular appearance, which is distinctively different from the usual prooflike character of a white metal piece. There are also some small craggy voids in peripheral areas, mostly between 10:00 and 2:00 on both sides. We suspect that this piece might have been lightly pested and conserved, perhaps by a chemical bath of some type. This would explain the unusual surfaces. The piece is quite sharply detailed and pleasing otherwise. Struck from the first reverse die with a different wreath style, and from the obverse with the prominent mark of Wright and Bale near the lower rim. This is a very rare variant, that, aside from the spectacular Baker Collection specimen, we have not handled in many years. The most recent possible appearance of one in our sales was in the Gilbert Steinberg Collection where one was described, but sold unplated in a group lot. As such, we are not convinced that attribution was correct. Aside from Baker and possibly Steinberg, every other important collection of Washington medals we have handled has been missing this type, including Stanley Scott, Garrett, Stewart Witham, David Dreyfuss, Jack Collins, the Fairfax Collection, Lucien LaRiviere, Western Reserve Historical Society, John J. Ford, Jr., the Patriot Collection, Norweb and Charles Wharton.
PCGS# 658799.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.
Estimate: $1200