1889 Centennial of Washington’s Inauguration Medal by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Pre-Production Pattern. Musante GW-1135 var., Douglas-53, for type. Solid Bronze. MS-62 (PCGS).

109.5 mm. 4734.7 grains. 4.7 millimeters to 4.2 millimeters at rims, 8.3 millimeters at thickest point. We are delighted to once again be able to offer this incredible medallic work, a trial used in the production process of the better-known final issue. It is glossy light mahogany and olive-brown, with a very consistent patina other than a couple of darker toned areas at the top Washington's head and over the O of COM at the upper right reverse. We last offered this in our September 2011 Americana sale, where it was described as follows, with minor edits: "The design of this important medal differs in several important aspects from the regular production issue. The great American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens had long since achieved international fame for sculpture in the round: public monuments, statuary, mortuary art. He was a profound admirer of the Renaissance medal, and this Washington commemorative was his first medal commission, created in the general style of the father of the Renaissance medal, Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello. "Washington had taken the oath office at Federal Hall in New York City on April 30, 1789 as the first president under the Constitution, a truly formative event in our nation's history. Former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Committee on Celebration Hamilton Fish only decided to have a medal at the end of 1888, leaving Saint-Gaudens and his associate Philip Martiny about four months to design, model and cast the required large-diameter medals. Saint-Gaudens preferred casting to medals struck from steel dies, especially in such ample size. "The medal would present a half-length civil bust of the first President facing left in a border of 13 widely spaced stars, GEORGE WASHINGTON above, a Roman Fasces at right with divided inscription PATER - PAT - RIAE / MDCCL - XX - XIX at center. The reverse presented a border of close-set stars around a spread eagle, TO COMMEMORATE above, 12-line inscription below identifies the cause of celebration, and a small Arms of New York City appears at lower left. "While generally similar to the adopted production design, this pattern shows significant differences. The obverse is surrounded by a high outer rim. The bust flares widely at base to 43.3 millimeters, and the four buttonholes in Washington's coat are absent altogether. The two-line inscription appearing on the adopted design, identifying Saint-Gaudens and Philip Martiny is wholly absent. "Washington's facial features are very different, presenting a large, almost bulbous nose, more jutting chin and peruke whose end is obscured by its ribbon tie. Details of the fasces are more sharply delineated, and all reverse lettering is larger, more closely set and more sharply squared throughout. The city arms is outlined at its borders and the raised outer rim is boldly toothed or dentilated. "This exciting prototype or pattern was unknown to Washingtoniana catalogers Susan Douglas, Russell Rulau and Dr. George Fuld. The first example to appear at public auction was a highlight of our (Stack's) January 2007 Americana Sale (lot 6834), where it climbed to a record realization of $63,250." This realized $23,000 in our September 2011 sale, seemingly an inexplicable bargain in contrast to the first offered, considering that this one is a bit sharper overall with fewer natural casting pits.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) September 2011 Americana Sale, lot 247.