Washingtoniana
Circa 1819 Series Numismatica Medal by Vivier. WASHINGTON. Musante GW-98, Baker-132. Bronze. Plain edge. SP-63 (PCGS).
40.8 mm. 576.5 grains. Deep chocolate and olive brown with some microscopic patina flecks peppering the obverse. Glossy and very attractive with just a few light handling marks on the surfaces and a small rim bump over Washington’s head. Obverse die cracked from the rim to Washington's eyebrow, a break seen on the Baker specimen sold in our November 2019 sale. Here it is more developed, this clearly being a later impression from the dies, probably from close to 1826, when Durand is believed to have moved production of his Series Numismatica medals to Munich. It is quite possible that this break necessitated the new die, as in this state it is easily seen on the finished product and might have been deemed aesthetically unacceptable, even if not a catastrophic failure of the steel.
PCGS# 654962.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.
Estimate: $500