MISCELLANEOUS WASHINGTON TOKENS AND MEDALS
Washington K.U. Verein Medal
Obverse - Houdon style Washington bust to right with "G.H.L."
on he truncation of bust, GEORGE to left, WASHINGTON to right.
Raised band around rim.
Reverse - In 5 lines WASHINGTON / K.U. VEREIN /
40 JAHRIGE / GRUNDUNGS - FEIER / MAI.16 1891
Baker unlisted, 40.4mm, bronze
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Washington Star Medals
First Obverse
GW-272, Baker 97, silver, 31mm
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(on line image)
GW-272, Baker 97A, copper, 31mm
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GW-272, Baker 97B, white metal, 31.2mm
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GW-272, Baker 97C, brass, 31mm
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(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
Neil Musante in "Medallic Washington" calls this the original combination of
these dies and I agree, their numbers being much greater than any of
the other pairings. Below are all the mulings that I am currently aware of.
There may be more since all are very scarce.
Washington Star obverse / George H. Washington Equestrian reverse
GW-278, Baker unlisted, silver, 32mm
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GW-278, Baker 98M, copper, 32mm
(IMAGE NEEDED)
GW-278, Baker unlisted, brass, 32mm
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(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
GW-278, Baker unlisted, white metal, 32mm
(IMAGE NEEDED)Washington Star obverse / Home of Washington reverse
GW-280, Baker 116, silver, 32mm
(IMAGE NEEDED)
GW-280, Baker 116A, copper, 32mm
(IMAGE NEEDED)
GW-280, Baker 116C, brass, 32mm
GW-280, Baker 116B, white metal, 32mm
First President of the UD States Medal
Baker 216F, white metal, 34.9mm
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| I have a question about this piece - is it Baker 216F or Baker 113G? The description for both read the same except Baker 113G is described as having a "wreath of laurel around head" which this does not. Baker 216F is listed with a diameter of 34 mm but these sizes are not always accurate in the catalog. Are these both descriptions of the same piece - the one illustrated above, or is there one with a laurel wreath around Washington's head? |
Washington Family Arms Medal
Baker 284, silver, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED
Baker 284A, copper, 27.9mm
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Cincinnatus of America Medals
The Cincinnatus of America die is found in combination with 5 other
dies - The Store Card die for John K. Curtis, two dies for campaign
medals (both most likely by George's brother John Doubleday Lovett),
and two dies I think are generic dies George H. created to use for
award medals. There is some question as to which combination was
the original pairing, if there was one. Rulau/Fuld says "Lovett
prepared this obverse die to respond to the tide of patriotism sweeping
the country as the nation plunged toward civil war" and seemed to
indicate it was originally used with the campaign dies. The Curtis
Store Card is considered a Civil War Storecard and in the 3rd Edition of
"U.S. Civil War Store Cards" John Ostendorf writes "His medalets were
issued during the great excitement for such pieces in 1858 and 1859".
(This statement does seem odd since the die is dated 1861).
Two reasons I think the original pairing is the Curtis Store Card. In "Medallic
Washington" Neil Musante list the rarity for the Store Cards as rare for
silver, very scarce for the other metals. All the other combinations are listed as rare.
My observation is that this is the case, and it was nearly always the case with
George H. that he would produced later mulings in very small quantities.
And it is the pairing that make the most sense. The two campaign dies were not
his own so he probably obtained them from his brother after the campaigns.
And the two generic dies just have no reason for being produced except or
George H's proclivity for putting any two dies of the same size together to
produce rarities!
John K. Curtis Store Cards
Obverse - Three quarter military bust of Washington to left, inscription around GEORGE WASHINGTON THE CINCINNATUS OF AMERICA B. 1732 D.1799
Reverse - Braided circle enclosing inscription in 10 lines (two small stars, one large star, two small stars) / JOHN K. CURTIS, / WATCH-MAKER / & MANUFACTUIRNG / JEWELER / 83 / BLEEKER ST. & / 882 BROADWAY / NEW YORK. / 1860
GW-436, Baker 529, NY 171, NY-630-Sa-1a, silver, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-436, Baker 529A, NY 172, NY-630-Sa-1b, copper, 31.2mm
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GW-436, Baker 529B, NY 173, NY-630-Sa-1e, brass, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-436, Baker 529C, NY 174, NY-630-Sa-1f, white metal, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED First "Union Must & Shall Be Preserved" reverse
Obverse - Same as above
Reverse - Inscription in center in five lines THE / UNION / MUST & SHALL / BE / PRESERVED
within a circle of 35 stars
GW-437, Baker 277, silver, 32mm
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(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
GW-437, Baker 277A, copper, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED
This reverse die was most likely originally used on a campaign
medalet struck by John D. Lovett and listed by Edmund Sullivan
C 1861-6 in "American Political Badges and Medalets 1789 - 1892"
Second "Union Must & Shall Be Preserved" reverse
Obverse - same as above
Reverse - A large eye at the center surrounded by radiating lines, inscription
around THE UNION MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED.
GW-438, Baker 278, copper, 31.2mm
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This reverse is also found with the same obverse as C 1861-C and designated
C 1861-7 as well as an 1860 Lincoln Campaign medal AL 1860-34, also
by John D. Lovett. It is also found with a generic die that is simply a berry and leave
wreath with a blank center, I have only ever seen one of these.
"Industry Produces Wealth" reverse
Obverse - same as above
Reverse - Palm wreath with ribbon at base, open at top with blank center,
inscription around "INDUSTRY PRODUCES WEALTH"
GW-349, Baker 352, silver, 31mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-349, Baker 352A, copper, 31mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-349, Baker 352B, brass, 31mm
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Baker 352C, white metal, 31.2mm
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This die seems to be a generic die produced by George H. that he would use
to produce generic award medals that could be engraved for whatever purpose
was needed. It is found in combination with the proceeding die and listed in
Andrew Harkness's book on Agricultural Society medals as an award medal
for the Erie County Society but I think that is incorrect.
Wreath and Wheat Reverse
Obverse - same as above
Reverse - Wheat sheaf at center surrounded by an oak wreath
GW440, Baker 278F, white metal, 32mm
IMAGE NEEDED
This is certainly a random muling by George H.. Musante only has a
composite image and Rulau/Fuld list it as R-9 and cite an example in the
Garrett Collection. That may be a unique example.
George Washington became known as the 'Cincinnatus of America' because of
the comparison to the famous Roman General L. Quinctius Cincinnatus.
A powerful enemy army was threatening Rome and the Senate called
Cincinnatus out of retirement from his farm to lead the army. There was
some concern he would not relinquish his powers but after deafeating the
invading army in 15 days he returned to his farm. Just as Washington was called
from Mt. Vernon to lead the Continental Army, then returning when the war was
over. And after leading the nation as President - knowing he could be made
President for life if he desired - he chose to return again to his family farm.
(for more on this see https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cincinnatus/)
Phillipse Manor Bicentennial Medal
Frederick Philipse (1626-1702) acquired a one-third interest in the
Yonkers Plantation in 1672, eventually owning the entire estate. A
Royal Charter granted on June 12, 1693 in the name of William and Mary
elevates his possessions "into a Lordship or Manor of Philipsborough in free and common soccage according to the tenure of our Manor of East Greenwich within our County of Kent in our realm of England, yielding, rendering and paying therefor, yearly and every year, on the feast day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at our fort at New York, unto us, our heirs and successors, the annual rent of £4 12 s. current money of our said Province." Frederick was instrumental in the founding of the city of Yonkers and the manor house was the first substantial
building built in the city
There seems to be no first hand information as to when the building was erected; the
earliest reference to the date is in Lossing's "The Hudson From the Wilderness To The Sea"
(1866) in which he says "The older portion was built in 1682. The present front, forming an addition, was erected in 1745 when old Castle Philipse at Sleepy Hollow was abandoned."
GW-979, Baker unlisted, silver, 35.2mm
(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers - Historical Society
of Pennsylvania Collection)
GW-979, Baker 376, bronze, 33mm
There seems to be no first hand information as to when the building was erected; the
earliest reference to the date is in Lossing's "The Hudson From the Wilderness To The Sea"
(1866) in which he says "The older portion was built in 1682. The present front, forming an addition, was erected in 1745 when old Castle Philipse at Sleepy Hollow was abandoned."
GW-979, Baker unlisted, silver, 35.2mm
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of Pennsylvania Collection)
GW-979, Baker 376, bronze, 33mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-979, Baker 376A, white metal, 35.3mm
On November 28, 1776 over 200 colonial New Yorkers signed the Loyalist
"Declaration of Dependence", among them was Frederick Philipse III, the third
and last Lord of the Manor. Ordered to be arrested by George Washington he
fled to England and his lands were seized by the New York State Legislature.
There were several owners until 1872 when it became the first City Hall of Yonkers.
Acquired by the State of New York in 1908 it is now the Philipse Hall
State Historic Site.
Philipse Hall State Historic Site
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On November 28, 1776 over 200 colonial New Yorkers signed the Loyalist
"Declaration of Dependence", among them was Frederick Philipse III, the third
and last Lord of the Manor. Ordered to be arrested by George Washington he
fled to England and his lands were seized by the New York State Legislature.
There were several owners until 1872 when it became the first City Hall of Yonkers.
Acquired by the State of New York in 1908 it is now the Philipse Hall
State Historic Site.
Silver, 31.4mm
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At first glance it appears the buildings on both medals are
the same but looking closely there are subtle differences, such
as the windows on the roof. Normally when I see two medals for
the same event with similar but not exactly the same design I
ask why the engraver would create an entirely different die?
In this case I am attributing this to George H. because of the
wreath on the reverse that is used on a political token that seems
to be his work, DeWitt GC 1884-4.
Parsons Family Arms Medals
First Obverse
GW-847, Baker 639, copper, 28mm
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GW-847, Baker 639A, white metal, 28.3mm
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Neil Musante calls this the 2nd obverse but does not have
a first obverse listed.
a first obverse listed.
Second Obverse
GW-847, Baker 640, copper, 28mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-847, Baker 640A, white metal, 28mm
This is listed as the 3rd obverse by Musante.
"Fourth" Obverse (per Musante)
GW-849, 28mm
(composite image)
This combination is not listed in Baker. The white metal one pictured
in Medallic Washington is from the Massachusetts Historical
Society collection; the listing says "copper - not seen but highly
likely"
The obverse and reverse of these medals seem to have no connection
and I think it is because they don't! Below is a medal Issac F. Woods had
George H. engrave and strike for the wedding of his friend Edward Parsons.
Sometime after the engraver decided to simply produce medals
combining the Parson's die with several of his existing Washington dies.
Taber / Parsons Wedding Medal, silver, 27.6mm
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This is listed as the 3rd obverse by Musante.
"Fourth" Obverse (per Musante)
GW-849, 28mm
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This combination is not listed in Baker. The white metal one pictured
in Medallic Washington is from the Massachusetts Historical
Society collection; the listing says "copper - not seen but highly
likely"
The obverse and reverse of these medals seem to have no connection
and I think it is because they don't! Below is a medal Issac F. Woods had
George H. engrave and strike for the wedding of his friend Edward Parsons.
Sometime after the engraver decided to simply produce medals
combining the Parson's die with several of his existing Washington dies.
Taber / Parsons Wedding Medal, silver, 27.6mm
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