1836 First Steam Coinage Medal. By Christian Gobrecht. Julian MT-21. Mar 23/Feb 22 Date. Bronzed Copper. MS-66 BN (NGC).

28 mm. A beautiful mahogany-brown specimen with vivid autumn-brown undertones. Sharp striking detail, semi-reflective fields and a smooth satin texture that borders on pristine are also praiseworthy attributes. The narrow cud break at 6 to 7 o'clock on the obverse rim confirms that this piece was struck from the original dies for the type. The Julian MT-21 attribution actually refers to the second state of the reverse die, however, corrected from the Feb. 22 date. Originally it was intended to hold this ceremony on George Washington's birthday, always an important national event. However, the coining press wasn't ready and the ceremony actually took place on March 23. A "complete" collection would include examples of both dates. Nonetheless, this extraordinary medal serves admirably to punctuate the end of the earlier Matron Head cent designs and signal the ascension of Christian Gobrecht as Mint engraver and his "Gobrecht Head" cent designs to follow.

From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation.