Washington Buttons
George Washington Memorial Period Mourning Button
c. 1800 Exceptional George Washington Memorial Period Mourning Button, Copper, Tinned / Silvered Reverse with Original Shank, Choice Extremely Fine or better.
34.6 mm. This impressive Memorial Button has a distinctive copper color with age tone on its face having a smooth defect-free attractive appearance with its Original Shank perfectly straight and fully intact. Clearly once Silvered or Tinned, likely when made, as the entire reverse has largely retained its coating on that protected back. Light wear, but no serious defects. A ornate design to the face that nicely engraved with a funeral URN at center, and having an ornamented fine ring of tiny indented beading at the extreme outer rim edge. This example is said to have been found in South Berwick, Maine, bought by collector Joseph Sawicki, and sold to specialist J. Harold Cobb for his collection of George Washington Inaugural buttons. This likely unique, highly desirable example was Published and Plated in "Just Buttons" in March of 1965 and it boasts a most prestigious pedigree, with a line of highly knowledgeable collectors.
Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier discovered in South Berwick, Maine; Joseph Sawicki; J. Harold Cobb Collection; Stack's January 2003 Americana Sale, lot 1364; Stack's sale of November 2017, lot 137.