(c.1844) Medal GW-101 White Metal, John Bacon Dies Washington Numismatica MS(PCGS#654966)

November 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4326

等级

MS63

价格

5,508

详细说明

Circa 1844-1860 Series Numismatica Medal by John R. Bacon. Musante GW-101, Baker-130A. White Metal. Plain edge. MS-63 (PCGS). 41.5 mm. 401.1 grains. Essentially brilliant surfaces with bright, reflective fields and satiny devices. A trace of flattening on the highest points of the hair is typical of this medal in this composition. Scattered hairlines and minor marks on both sides. Small reverse depressions appear to be more the result of a flawed planchet than any handling. Called "very rare" in this composition by Musante. Baker did not have one in white metal, but we can think of a couple that have passed through our hands in recent years, among them one in the Norweb Collection in 2006. Gilbert Steinberg also had one, as did Lucien LaRiviere, but the David Dreyfuss, John Ford and Charles Wharton collections were missing this type completely. Jack Collins had a bronze. The white metal pieces we have seen have not been edge-marked, but bronzes are generally either marked with the Ship's Prow or Pointing Hand privy marks of the Paris Mint, dating them to between 1844, the year Bacon is believed to have cut the dies, and 1860, the end-date for the use of the pointing-hand privy mark. As the white metal pieces we have seen do not bear edge marks, they may have not been struck by the Paris Mint, or struck as trials and not meant for any official distribution as they are quite rare. This piece does seem to be in a later die state than the bronze offered in the previous lot, however, suggesting an after-thought rather than a trial impression. Provenance: From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. PCGS# 654966.