Washingtoniana
1889 Inaugural Centennial Equestrian medal. Musante GW-1104, Douglas-13, var. Brass. Plain edge. SP-64 (PCGS).
43.3 mm. 443.3 grains. Deep golden olive brass with strong accents of rose and pale blue iridescence in places. Apparently struck on a somewhat crude cast flan as there are areas of minor roughness that did not strike out fully. Apparently a very rare composition for this medal. It was unknown to Susan Douglas in 1949 in brass, and still not known a half-century later when Rulau and Fuld published their expanded version of Medallic Portraits, nor when Musante published Medallic Washington in 2016. According to the Chapman catalog for the 1892 Colin King sale, just six of these were struck in bronze, and those are rarely ever seen. We must assume that the mintage in brass is fewer, and it is conceivable that it is unique.
PCGS# 826466.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.
Estimate: $1500