1897 Washington Monument at Philadelphia Medal. Baker S-324. Silver. About Uncirculated. 76 mm. 177.02 grams. A lovely specimen, fully prooflike in finish, with mostly silver-gray surfaces and delicate iridescent toning engaging the design elements. Technically Mint State, but with wispy hairlines from light collector handling over the years. Housed in the original purple plush exterior and interior case, the inside of the lid gold stamped PETER L. KRIDER CO. / PHILADELPHIA. The lid is detached from the interior, base nearly so, but otherwise the case is well preserved.A silver example was lot 118 in our (Stacks) Herman Halpern Collection Sale, May 1992, another as lot 6342 in our January 2011 New York Americana Sale. None appeared in the Garrett, Dreyfuss, Jack Collins, Paul Magriel or Patterson collections. President William McKinley unveiled the statue in presence of Vice President Garrett Hobart, governors of three states, mayors of Philadelphia and New York, and the entire Pennsylvania Legislature. The silver strikes, as here, were presented to prominent guests at the dedication and following banquet. (Total: 1 medal; 1 case)
