Washingtoniana

"1834" (ca. 1841-1842) Washington Cercle Britannique Heroes of Liberty Medal. Musante GW-149, Baker-196. Bronze. Edge: (anchor) CUIVRE. MS-62 BN (NGC).

51.2 mm. Handsome copper-brown surfaces exhibit subtle semi-reflective tendencies in the fields as the medal dips into a light. Faint traces of carbon preclude a higher numeric grade, although there are no sizeable or otherwise individually mentionable marks. According to Musante, these medals were conceived in response to the passing of LaFayette in 1834, but they did not appear for sale in the Paris Mint's catalog until 1838. There are two distinct variants of the medals, those with plain edges called "originals" and those with a Paris Mint privy mark indicating a very slightly later vintage, as here. It is not uncommon for these pieces to appear for sale without specification as to the precise vintage. This is probably because owning an example is considered more important than which decade it was struck in, particularly since those marked and those unmarked seem to be separated only by a couple of years.

Estimate: 600