Washington Army Headquarters



ARMY HEADQUARTERS DURING THE REVOLUTION

 Valley Forge

Washington Headquarters at Valley Forge - First Obverse

GW-285, Baker 175, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-285, Baker 175A, copper, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-285, Baker 175C, brass, 32mm

GW-285, Baker 175E, white metal, 31.6mm


Washington Headquarters at Valley Forge - Second Obverse

This obverse dies was the work of his brother Robert Jr. and 
probably first used on his Historic Series No. 2 medal.

 GW-299, Baker 176, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

 GW-299, Baker 176A, bronze, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

 GW-299, Baker 176B, white metal, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED


 Washington Headquarters at Valley Forge - Third Obverse

GW-288, Baker 177, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-288, Baker 177A, copper, 32mm
(on line image)

GW-288, Baker 177B, brass, 32mm

GW-288, Baker 177C, white metal, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED



Tappan 

Washington's Headquarters at Tappan - First Obverse

GW-284, Baker 178, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-284, Baker 178A, copper, 32mm


GW-284, Baker 178B, brass, 32mm
(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
 
GW-284, Baker 178D, white metal, 32mm
            
(image courtesy of John Kraljevich)


Washington's Headquarters at Tappan - Second Obverse

GW-283, Baker 179, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-283, Baker 179A, copper, 32mm
(on line image)

GW-283, Baker unlisted, brass, 32mm

GW-283, Baker unlisted, white metal, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED


Washington's Headquarters at Tappan - Third Obverse?

Bowers' book on Sage list a muling of the Tappan die with Robert Jr's
Equestrian Washington die, in copper, brass, and silver, but he calls them
Baker 179 which is not correct. Rulau/Fuld and Neil Musante do not list this
combination. Although it seems logical they should exist given the others
in this series I think more evidence is needed to confirm this.


Washington's Headquarters, Tappan / Rockland County

GW-952, Baker 180, bronze, 34.3mm

GW-952, Baker 180A, white metal, 34.3mm
     This medal and the white metal Major Andre medal (see misc. Historical Figures page) were part of a set that contained the letter pictured below. The letter from Mr. Henry Whittemore, Secretary of the Rockland County Historical Society and the Andre Memorial Centennial, to Mary L. Bowman thanks her for letters she sent to him and says he is enclosing  "a medal with a sketch of the old Dutch Church where Andre was tried also a medal of the Washington Headquarters". Also included was an envelope with a note that the letter and medals were enclosed.

GW-952, Baker 180B, silver, 34.3mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Newburg

The Old Hasbrook House, Newburg, N.Y. - First Obverse

GW-281, Baker 181, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-281, Baker 181A, copper, 32mm

GW-281, Baker 181B, brass, 32mm


GW-281, Baker 181C, white metal, 32mm



The Old Hasbrook House, Newburg, N.Y. - Second Obverse
(Robert Jr's Equestrian die)

GW-295, Baker 182, copper, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Silver - unlisted in Rulau/Fuld and Musante, listed in Bowers
IMAGE NEEDED

The Old Hasbrook House, Newburg, N.Y. - Third Obverse

GW-282, Baker 183, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED

GW-282, Baker 183A, copper, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED 

GW-282, Baker 183B, brass, 32mm 

GW-282, unlisted in Rulau/Fuld, white metal, 32mm


 There is an entire group of medals combining various dies
From Sage's Historical Tokens pertaining to Washington's
Headquarters. These are not listed in Rulau/Fuld as they do not
have a Washington image but Neil Musante has chosen to include
them in his "Medallic Washington" book. I will be listing them
with Sage Historical Token mules.



George H. Lovett's Headquarters Series
  
     Sometime in the 1860's George H. produced a series of 10 dies depicting various locations for George Washington's headquarters during the Revolutionary War. He combined these with three different obverse dies producing what is essentially three different sets. The obverse dies are similar in design, with a uniformed Washington bust in the center, and three different ornamental borders. All three obverse dies are found combined with other dies.
First Obverse
      This obverse is described as a border of shields and spears. Baker list the series as having been produced in silver and copper. Each combination is given a different attribution number (Baker 184 through 193).
Harlem, N.Y., No. 1, Baker 184, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Harlem, N.Y., No. 1, Baker 184A, copper, 27.7mm

White Plains, N.Y., No. 2, Baker 185, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

White Plains, N.Y., No. 2, Baker 185A, copper, 28mm

Chad's Ford, Pa., No. 3, Baker 186, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Chad's Ford, N.Y., No. 3, Baker 186A, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

White Marsh, Pa., No. 4, Baker 187, silver, 27.7mm

White Marsh, Pa., No. 4, Baker 187A, copper, 28mm
(images courtesy of Stacks Bowers)

Valley Forge, Pa., No. 5, Baker 188, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Valley Forge, Pa., No. 5, Baker 188A, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Tappan, N.Y., No. 6, Baker 189, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Tappan, N.Y., No. 6, Baker 189A, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Morristown, N.J., No. 7, Baker 190, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Morristown , N.J., No. 7, Baker 190A, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Sufferns, N.Y., No. 8, Baker 191, silver, 27.7mm

Sufferns, N.Y., No. 8, Baker 191A, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., No. 9, Baker 192, silver, 27.7mm

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., No. 9, Baker 192A, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Newburg, N.Y., No. 10, Baker 193, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Newburg N.Y., No. 10, Baker 193A, copper, 28mm

Second Obverse
      This obverse is described as a border of semicircles and stars; all are numbered as Baker 194 in the catalog and when they are described they are usually listed with a number after the 194 (as below). Baker list silver, copper, and brass as having been produced
White Plains, N.Y., No. 2, Baker 194 2, silver, 28mm
 (image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)

Sufferns, N.Y., No.8, Baker 194 10, silver, 28mm
 (image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., No.9, Baker 194 10, silver, 28mm
 (image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)

Newburg, N.Y., No.10, Baker 194 10, silver, 28mm
(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
   

Harlem, N.Y., No. 1, Baker 194A 1, copper, 27.7mm

White Plains, N.Y., No. 2, Baker 194A 2, copper, 28mm

Chad's Ford, Pa., No. 3, Baker 194A 3, copper, 28mm

Whitemarsh, Pa., No. 4, Baker 194A 4, copper, 28mm

Valley Forge, Pa, No. 5, Baker 194A 5, copper, 28mm

Tappan, N.Y., No. 6, Baker 194A 6, copper, 27.7mm

Morristown, N.J., No. 7, Baker 194A 7, copper, 27.7mm

Sufferns, N.Y., No. 8, Baker 194A 8, copper, 27.7mm

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., No. 9, Baker 194A 9, copper, 28mm

Newburg, N.Y., No.10, Baker 194A 10, copper, 28mm

Harlem, N.Y., No. 1, Baker 194B 1, brass, 27.7mm

White Plains, N.Y., No. 2, Baker 194B 2, brass, 27.7mm
 
Chad's Ford, Pa., No. 3, Baker 194B 3, brass, 27.7mm
 
 Whitemarsh, Pa., No. 4, Baker 194B 4, brass, 27.7mm
IMAGE NEEDED
 
Valley Forge, Pa, No. 5, Baker 194B 5, brass, 27.7mm

Tappan, N.Y., No. 6, Baker 194B 6, brass, 27.7mm

Morristown, N.J., No. 7, Baker 194B 7, brass, 27.7mm

Sufferns, N.Y., No. 8, Baker 194B 8, brass, 27.7mm

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., No. 9, Baker 194B 9, brass, 27.7mm
 
Newburg, N.Y., No.10, Baker 194B 10, brass, 27.7mm


Baker gives a rarity rating of 9 (2 to 4 existing) for the silver examples in
this series; Musante calls them rare (8 to 31 struck). The copper examples
are given a rarity rating of 5 in Baker (75 to 199 existing) and called scarce 
in Musante (128 to 511). Baker does not have any rarity for the brass examples
and Musante calls them very scarce or 32 to 127 struck. I believe the 
brass examples are as rare as silver pieces. I know of one recent auction
appearance of a full set in brass from the Bowers and Merena auction of 
the Stewart Witham Collection in 1992. The set pictured here (lacking No. 4) was 
obtained from the Heritage Auction in August of 2021; there was no listing 
of provenance in the descriptions.
    

Whitemarsh, Pa, No. 4, Baker 194C 4, white metal, 28mm
      What is this? There is no listing of these having been struck in white metal but here it is. It appears to be a legitimately struck piece and is the only one I have seen for any in the series.

Second and Third Obverse Mulings

Copper, GW-544, unlisted in Baker, 27.7mm

White metal, GW-544, unlisted in Baker, 27.7mm

(on line image)


1965 Newburg Coin Club Convention Tokens, copper, 29mm

    These tokens produced for the club's 1965 coin convention utilize the designs from George H's Headquarters at Newburg, second obverse token. Close examination shows it is a very well executed design and I wonder if they did not have access to the original dies. Or maybe an electrotype.

1969 Newburgh Convention Token, white metal?, 39mm
        This token, which I assumed was produced for a coin show/convention in 1969, utilizes the image from the reverse of Baker 194A 10.

Third Obverse
      This die is described as a border of shields and stars. As with the second obverse all the different combinations are designated with Baker 195. Silver, copper, and white metal are listed.

 Harlem, N.Y., No. 1, Baker 195A-1, copper, 28mm
(on line image) 


 Harlem, N.Y., No. 1, Baker 195B 1, white metal, 27.6mm

Sufferns, N.Y., No. 8, Baker 195B 8, white metal, 28mm

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., No. 9, Baker 195B 9, white metal, 27.6mm

Newburg, N.Y., No. 10, Baker 195B 10, white metal, 27.7mm


Headquarters Series Obverse mules

 After producing his Headquarters Series it seems George H. was up
to his usual practice of then utilizing the dies for his second and third
obverse and combining them with other Washington dies to produce
rarities for collectors. Most are not listed in Baker or the Rulau/Fuld
revision but are listed in Neil Musante's "Medallic Washington".
Because of the rarity of these strikings there are some not listed in
"Medallic Washington" and probably more to surface.

 Second Obverse mules

"May Our Country" reverse, GW-531, copper, 28mm
(composite image)

"May Our Country" reverse, GW-531, brass, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

"Born, Died" reverse, GW-534, Baker 138, copper, 28mm
(composite image)


"Born, Died" reverse, GW-534, Baker 138A, 28mm
(composite image)

Shield and Star reverse, GW-537, Baker unlisted, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

(The image in "Medallic Washington" is of the
example in the Massachusetts Historical Society and
may be unique)

Shield and Star reverse, GW-537, Baker 141, copper, 28mm

(image courtesy of Heritage)

Shield and Star reverse, GW-537, Baker 141A, brass, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

"The Defender Of His Country" reverse, GW-540, copper, 28mm
(composite image)

"The Defender Of His Country" reverse, GW-540, brass, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

 Nude bust right reverse, GW-542, copper, 28mm
(composite image)

Franklin reverse, GW-545, Baker 206, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Franklin reverse, GW-545, Baker 206A, copper, 28mm

IMAGE NEEDED

Franklin reverse, GW-545, Baker 206B, brass, 28mm 

The Franklin die is probably the work of his father, Robert Sr. 


Third Obverse Mules

"May Our Country" reverse, GW-532, Baker 263, copper, 28mm
  (Composite image)

 "May Our Country" reverse, GW-532, Baker 263A, brass, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED
 
"Born, Died" reverse, GW-535, Baker 139, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

"Born, Died" reverse, GW-535, Baker 139A, brass, 28mm 

"The Defender Of His Country" reverse, GW-541, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

"The Defender Of His Country" reverse, GW-541, Baker 263F, brass, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Nude bust right reverse, GW-543, Baker 139M, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Nude bust right reverse, Musante and Baker unlisted, brass, 27.8mm

Franklin reverse, GW-546, Baker 205, silver, 28mm
(on line image)

Franklin reverse, GW-546, Baker 205A, copper, 28mm

Franklin reverse, GW-546, Baker 205B, brass, 27.4mm