Happy Birthday George Washington!! Post a Washington Piece~~~

ambro51 · February 22, 2010 12:16AM

A Man of so long ago.....transformed into legend within his own Lifetime. Today, revered as a cornerstone of the United States....his legend continues.

This token Ive posted.....thats one of the very first numismatic items I became aware of. A few of these were carefully preserved in a small white, cotton filled box in my Grandmothers display case. At a tender young age, I suspected they were real gold, and were of great age, since they bore the date 1932. yet...so perfect, so new looking.

Now it is my turn to guard them......I remember the way my own grand daughters eyes lit up when she seen these three coins.........and I gave her one.

Billet7 · February 22, 2010 12:51AM

messydesk · February 22, 2010 12:51AM

Shot this for Coinosaurus a while back. I can look at this for a long time.

crazyhounddog · February 22, 2010 1:20AM

kimber45ACP · February 22, 2010 1:37AM

coinkid855 · February 22, 2010 2:00AM

-Paul

TomB · February 22, 2010 3:34AM

Unfortunately this is not mine, I was an underbidder-

ambro51 · February 22, 2010 3:50AM

Im not a huge fan of quarters...but heres one from my moms "hoard".....This is a design "they got right"

BillJones · February 22, 2010 6:44AM

Back in the 19th century collecting medals was as big as collecting coins. A rare and important medal could sell for as much as rare and important coin.

One of the big specialties in the 19th century medal collecting community was Washington pieces. This led to the production of many Washington related medals and tokens because quite often the issue of such items there was a ready market for them.

The U.S. mint issued this small medal at the beginning of the Civil War. The subject was ostensibly to celebrate the oath of allegiance to the Union by all of the mint employees, but it was more a revenue producer for the mint coffers. The dies were completed by Anthony Paquet (the fellow who made the ill-fated dies for the recalled 1861 $20 gold pieces) who was paid on October 12, 1861. The mint director, James Pollock placed a Washington portrait on it because he knew that would attract collectors who had to own most anything that had Washington on it. The 19th century mintage was 888 pieces which quite high for the period. The medal has a diameter of 31mm.

Someone has already posted an example of this U.S. mint cabinet piece, but I’ll add a bit more to the story. Director James Ross Snowden added this medal to the mint’s products in 1860 after he had successfully marketed a much piece that commemorated the same subject the previous year. The 19th century mintage for this piece 201.

BillJones · February 22, 2010 8:09AM

Oh, I'll try to keep this alive a little longer.

Here is the Yorktown medal, which was issued during the 100th anniversary of that battle, which won our nation's independence. Some people think that this piece was the model for the Lafayette Dollar. It is interesting to note that there were no medals or other major celebrations to my knowledge that marked the 200th anniversary of this important battle.

It will interesting to see if the Washinton items attract as much attention as the Lincoln items did a little over a week ago. I talked about how Washington now is treated like "the marble guy sitting on the marble horse" these days while Lincoln appears to be more of a living and breathing human being to more people these days.

Unknown · February 22, 2010 9:12AM

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coinsarefun · February 22, 2010 9:12AM

Aegis3 · February 22, 2010 11:43AM

Washington crossing the Delaware on the reverse of this medal. This piece was issued to Oregon governor and US Senator Mark O Hatfield who served on the 1976 assay commission.

HighRelief · February 22, 2010 12:31PM

MidLifeCrisis · February 22, 2010 12:39PM

Here is what I posted in another GW thread recently...

A tall, red-headed, slave owning, Virginia aristocrat...equal parts myth and well-deserved legend...he was absolutely the right man at the right time. Fascinating, enigmatic and a true hero.

....