101587 | UNITED STATES, FRANCE & GERMANY. George Washington bronze Medal.

101587  |  UNITED STATES, FRANCE & GERMANY. George Washington bronze Medal. Dated 1819 (but issued circa 1826-1844). Series Numismatica Universalis Virorum Illustrium (40mm, 38.52 g, 12h). By Vivier & Durand in München.

 

GEORGIUS WASINGTON, head left / NATUS / VIRGINIAE IN / AMERICA FOEDERATA / AN M DCC XXXII / OBIIT / AN M DCC XCIX in six lines. Edge: MONACHII.

 

Musante GW-100 [R9]; Baker 131A. Mint State. Deep chocolate brown surfaces, with some brilliant underlying luster; a few light rim marks on the reverse prevent an even higher designation. Very rare variant with "WASINGTON," and one of just a handful known. Compare to a similar example—an NGC MS-64 BN—that realized a total of $2,291.25 in Heritage Summer FUN 2017, lot 8292, along with a nicer and more recent example—an NGC MS-66 BN—that realized a total of $1,800 in Stack's Bowers March 2021 auction, lot 1064.

 

This piece is from the "Virorum Illustrium" (famous men) series, which presented numerous contemporary and historical male figures in medallic form, along with a brief biography on each reverse. An attractive and seldom-seen Washington medal of foreign commission and manufacture, issued just a few decades after his death and featuring the rare misspelling of his surname.

 

Many of Durand's earlier issues were struck at the Paris mint, though their policy of maintaining a monopoly over the striking of medals in France caused him to look elsewhere. In order to retain creative and commercial control, he had the mint in München strike some issues between 1826-1844, with the edges of these issues reading "MONACHII" (of München).

 

Sorry, this item is no longer available.