Object Number 1967.0616

Object Name

Medal

Title

George Washington

Category

Metals

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

John Matthew Reich (Engraver)
1767-1832

United States Mint (Maker)
1792
The Mint was established by the U.S. Congress in 1792 with The Coinage Act. David Rittenhouse was appointed the first director by President George Washington and the Mint was erected in Philadelphia.

Place of Origin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1797 (1805-1807)

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Obverse; "G.WASHINGTON PRES. UNIT. STA." motto encircling portrait
2. Inscription; Reverse; "COMMISS. RESIGNED : PRESIDENCY RELINQ." encircling trophy and "1797" in exergue
3. Mark; Obverse, Washington's shoulder; "R" in relief beneath the shoulder

Subjects

George Washington; American Revolutionary War; President

Materials

Silver

Techniques

Struck

Dimensions (inches)

0.118 (H) , 1.969 (L) , 1.614 (W) , 1.2699 (Weight)

Dimensions (centimeters)

0.3 (H) , 5 (L) , 4.1 (W) , 36 (Weight)

Measurement Notes

Alloy measured in 1973: silver 95-95.5%; copper .84 - 1.0 %; gold 2.4 - 3.1%; lead .71 - .81%. Surface analysis reveals very silver rich and copper poor alloy, thus medal was possibly re-pickled or chemically cleaned. [AWagner 9/2010] Note: I weighed this in two different years, but with no physical change. In 2010 it weighed 39.0 grams and in 2024 it weighed 36.0 grams. Same scale. Calibration needs to be more scientific. [AWagner 6/2024]

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Quimby, Ian M. G. 1995 American Silver at Winterthur.
• Published: p. 418, no. 430