Washington Medals 1850-59
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Baker 325C U.S. Mint Cabinet Medal 1859 Paquet Philadelphia
Obverse: PATER PATRIAE [at the rim of the truncated arm is the monogram AP]
Reverse: A / MEMORIAL / OF THE / WASHINGTON / CABINET / MAY 1859
Bronze Weight: 85.9 g (5.57 grams) Diameter: 21.4 mm Reverse die alignment: 360°
Comments: On February 22, 1860 the Philadelphia mint formally inaugurated the Washington Cabinet of medals. The event culminated over a decade of intensive collecting by the mint with a printed description of the medals published in 1861 by the mint's director James Ross Snowden. During the 1860's and 70's the collection of Washingtonia was the most celebrated of the mint's holdings. Even before the collection was officially inaugration the engraver Anthony C. Paquet created the above medal to be purchased as a souvenir by those visiting the mint collection. Paquet's monogram, an A combined with a P, appears in the center of the ridge at the arm truncation. For a 600 dpi detail of the monogram click here. The detail has been lightened slightly to highlight the monogram.
The obverse of the medal shows a bust right portrait of Washington in civilian dress that is though to be based on the unfinished Gilbert Stuart three quarter face portrait of Washington now owned by the Boston Athenaeum (and reproduced on the one dollar bill), the reverse contains the legend within a wreath. The medal was struck at the Philadelphia mint and issued in gold, silver, copper, bronze and yellow bronze. A similar bust and wreath were issued in smaller size (Baker 156) as part of Paquet's two medal mint series, shown below.
Provenance: Part of an anonymous donation consisting of 1100 tokens and medals covering the Nineteenth century, primarily up through the Civil War era.
Reference: Rulau and Fuld, p. 145.
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Baker 155A U.S. Mint Series, undraped bust Paquet Philadelphia
Obverse: [no legend, but the monogram AP at the truncation near the back of the neck]
Reverse: BORN / 1732 / DIED / 1799
Silver Weight: 47.6 g (3.09 grams) Diameter: 18.1 mm Reverse die alignment: 360°
Comments: One of a set of two small undated Washington medals struck at the Philadelphia mint. The dies were created by Anthony C. Paquet of the mint staff. Paquet's monogram, an A combined with a P, appears at the left end of the ridge at the truncation of the neck. It is visible in the 500 dpi image.
The obverse shows an undraped bust right portrait of Washington modeled on the statue by the french sculptor Jean-Anione Houdon in the Richmond, Virginia state capitol, the reverse contains the legend within a wreath. This medalet was struck at the Philadelphia mint and issued in gold, silver and bronze.
Provenance: Part of an anonymous donation consisting of 1100 tokens and medals covering the Nineteenth century, primarily up through the Civil War era.
Reference: Rulau and Fuld, p. 113.
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Baker 156C U.S. Mint Series, civilian dress Paquet Philadelphia
Obverse: [no legend, but the monogram AP appears at the center of the arm truncation]
Reverse: BORN / 1732 / DIED / 1799
Bronze Weight: 54.3 g (3.51 grams) Diameter: 18.3 mm Reverse die alignment: 360°
Comments: One of a set of two small undated Washington medals struck at the Philadelphia mint. The dies were created by Anthony C. Paquet of the mint staff. Paquet's monogram, an A combined with a P, appears in the center of the ridge at the arm truncation. For a 1200 dpi detail of the monogram click here. The detail has been lightened slightly to highlight the monogram.
The obverse shows a bust right portrait of Washington in civilian dress that is though to be based on the unfinished Gilbert Stuart three quarter face portrait of Washington now owned by the Boston Athenaeum (and reproduced on the one dollar bill), the reverse contains the legend within a wreath. The medalet was struck at the Philadelphia mint and issued in gold, silver, copper, bronze and yellow bronze. A similar bust and wreath were issued in larger size (Baker 156) on Paquet's 1859 Mint Cabinet Memorial medal, shown above.
Provenance: Part of an anonymous donation consisting of 1100 tokens and medals covering the Nineteenth century, primarily up through the Civil War era.
Reference: Rulau and Fuld, p. 113.
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