Circa 1798 Washington Seasons Medal. The Shepherd. Late reverse die state. Musante GW-67, Baker-170A, Julian IP-51. Copper. SP-61 BN (PCGS).

48.0 mm. 726.6 grains. “Magnificent” is the word used to subtitle this specimen in its last public appearance more than 18 years ago, and there is good reason to use it again. The surfaces are dark chocolate brown with mottled overtones of soft blue, violet and gold through the prooflike fields. In fact, both sides are generously reflective, which is rather unusual for any Seasons Medal. The strike was very sharp, so much so that even fine die finishing lines can be easily seen through the body of the bull and in the details of the home at left. Scratches that have long since toned over are found in the fields of both sides, but even these are not terribly distracting, though unfortunate they might be. Still, technical perfection in a Seasons medal is nearly like the proverbial hen’s teeth. This is certainly a superior representative of this rare medal. Another interesting feature of this particular piece is the missing edge loop. This medal was produced with the integral hanger, as all intended for Native distribution, but it was carefully removed and filed smooth. Struck from the late reverse die state with crumbling in the upper left interior of the D of PRESIDENT. Small breaks between the N and G of WASHINGTON and the E and O of GEO, connecting these two sets of letters have been removed from the medal by hand. This was clearly done by the maker, as proven by the consistency and frequency of the adjustments across the medals in the Martin holdings. To our knowledge, this feature has not been noticed or published previously. One of just 16 or 17 survivors known to the writer. One, at the ANS, is described as a silver-plated bronze. As high-quality electrotypes are known, the nature of that example is a bit uncertain.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex the Virgil Brand Collection, April 1962; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack’s) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part II, May 2004, lot 185; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.