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Superb Colonel William Washington Medal NGC MS-66

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Washington Medals

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Superb Colonel William Washington Medal NGC MS-66

1781-Dated. (c.1900) Lieutenant Colonel William Washington Medal. Struck at the United States Mint in Bronze. Plain Edge. NGC graded Mint State-66 Brown.
Julian MI-8. 45 mm. 43.3 gm. This medal was struck at the United States Mint from copy dies made from the original French medals by James Longacre (which is why Julian includes it in his book of U.S. Mint Medals). The edge is plain and lacks the privy marks usually seen on the Paris Mint pieces. Also, the planchet is much thicker than on the French versions of this medal. This example is choice, with a rich, reddish-brown color. William Washington was a relative of George Washington, thus making this medal very popular with collectors during the mid- to late-1800s. This medal is the only and Finest in quality of this vintage, so certified by NGC to date.


This is a United States Mint made medal, produced circa 1900. To our best knowledge, we are aware of only a small group of this special vintage and type that were recently discovered, and unpublished until now. To our best knowledge only one of each design is known. It is possible that others may exist. They are clearly not originals or 19th century restrikes. These medals have a distinct appearance. They are certainly the "only ones recognized" for what they are. Also, they are apparently even rarer than the medals that were produced by the Mint with the green experimental finish, that were used for only a few years at the turn of the 19th century. According to Joe Levine, he has not seen any of this vintage previously, over many decades of specialization and as a top authority in the field. We know of none other of these medals, other than a few sold through Presidential. It is difficult to to estimate their market value as they are of a later issue, and the "originals" have been widely collected since made. However, this vintage of issue appears to be vastly more rare than the "originals," if not unique. The true rarity of these medals is unknown. However, the fact that they have just come to the attention of longtime specialists in the field is a good indication of their great scarcity.

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