Lot 1489
1799. Washington Funeral Medal in Silver. VF-35. Holed (as are all genuine examples as a ribbon was attached). A very attractive toned specimen of this foremost piece issued at the time of George Washington's Funeral in late-1799.
Washington died on December 14, 1799. Two funeral processions were held in Boston, the first was sponsored by the Masonic Lodge on Feb. 11, 1800 while the second was a general procession on February 22, 1800. According to Baker the Newburyport diemaker Jacob Perkins produced medals for each event. The two medals have similar obverses. The reverse of the medal for the Masonic procession, Baker 165, contains a legend in four lines with a small skull and crossbones at the bottom. The reverse of the medal offered here, thought to be for the general procession, displays a legend in two lines with an urn in the center. Angel Pietri has discovered the Boston Masonic Lodge still owns an urn made by Paul Revere that contains a lock of Washington's hair. Pietri examined the procession in detail, using contemporary accounts. In the diary of the Reverend William Bently, who gave the funeral sermon for the Mason's event there is a mention of Perkins, "on this occasion so well known for his excellent medals. of our General Washington." (Pietri, pp. 15 and 17). From this and the prominence of the urn in the procession Pietri suggests both Washington medals were produced and sold at the Masonic procession.
This example, in silver, is much rarer than those in white metal. It shows a bust of Washington facing left surrounded in a wreath on the obverse while the reverse displays a funeral urn and two semicircular lines of text. The medal was originally made with a small hole at the top, a small loop of wire would be put through the hole so the medal could be pinned onto clothing or suspended from a string. In this example the hole has been filled rather crudely.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Ex. Presidential Coin Auction, May 1997, Lot 165.
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| Realized $2,880 |
