1897 Washington Silver Medal Help Needed

coinhunter15

Hello. I have a George Washington Silver Medal with ribbon from the 1897 5th universal postal congress. I found the medal in the book medallic portraits of Washington 2nd edition but it only lists a bronze version. I have 2 questions.



1. I was told pcgs does not grade a medal with a ribbon on it. Therefore I would have to cut the ribbon in order for me to get it graded. If I have the medal graded, would I increase or decrease the overall value of the item because it is no longer in its original condition?



2. Does any body have any information about this medal, the value, how many were made, other books or websites about a silver version of this medal. The book I referenced only lists a bronze version so I need some help understanding what I have.



Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me.

Outhaul

I say leave it alone. Its appeal is to exonumists who usually prefer their exonumia whole and unadulterated.

Cheers

Bob

Sonorandesertrat

"I say leave it alone. Its appeal is to exonumists who usually prefer their exonumia whole and unadulterated."

Broadstruck

The silvered clasp that holds the medal pinches it in 2 spots below the rim and if removed will show two gouges on either side where it was located.



Best to just leave it as is since once removed the desire to own by others will diminish greatly.

StrikeOutXXX

Found this:

915. (Philately) Washington Fifth Universal Postal Con-
gress Member Medal, 1897; 1 7/16-inch (37.0mm) sil-
ver. Obv Houdon bust Washington nude right. Rev 6-line
inscription within wreath: member fifth universal Postal
Congress Washington 1897. Struck by US Mint. Clam
shell & swivel loop with ring. (Rulau-Fuld page 258,
Baker N-678). Some edge dings, otherwise.
EF. Scarce! 30.1 grams $150-180

and this at ANS search although not very helpful:

http://numismatics.org/collection/1968.20.5


Spink sold one July 2013 - Lot 361
http://www.auction-net.co.uk/v...php?id=1631&offset=350

This talks about the sculptor
http://www.medalartists.com/houdon-james-antoine.html

It's mentioned briefly on page 80 here as well:

https://books.google.com/books...2Washington%22&f=false

coindeuce

Please leave it as is. If you're planning to offer it any other way, you'll destroy the value of it as it was intended to be issued. 19th century U.S. Mint struck medals are of extraordinary interest to exonumia collectors like myself, but only when they are left as made and issued.

The Houdon portraits of Washington are far more popular in medallic form than those produced by Gilbert Stuart.

291fifth

Leave it exactly as is and forget about having it graded. Far too many of the badge medals from that era have been ruined by collectors trying to make them more appealing to straight medal collectors.

davewesen

If you take off clamp / ribbon you will probably get a damage / ex-jewelry from PCGS - will drop much more in value than what you hope to gain.

MedalCollector

127 minted in silver by the Philadelphia Mint. There might have been more struck later on. None listed in bronze, but doesn't mean there aren't any.

coinhunter15

Hello. Thank you for all the opinions and information about the medal that everyone suggested. I will keep the medal as it is. Thanks

RogerB

Maybe you can find the gold example? It's in a small case.

ricko

@coinhunter15...Welcome aboard.... Good decision to keep it with the ribbon. Nice medal... Cheers, RickO

TomB

Only mess around with this if your goal is to destroy its value.

RogerB

125 struck in silver at the Philadelphia Mint; 1 struck in gold. No bronze or copper pieces reported made. There were 121 delegates to the International Postal Congress. Four extras were made in case of damage or defect. Charles Barber designed and cut the dies.