1789 (1883) Washington of Virginia Medal. Massamore Restrike. Musante GW-352R, Baker-64B. Copper. MS-64 RB (PCGS). 34 mm. Lightly toned in gently mottled olive-gray, both sides retain plenty of original light orange-red color with just slight mellowing in the exposed fields. Sharply struck in impressive relief on an extra thick planchet, with thin wire rims in places. These restrikes were produced from the original dies on behalf of Dr. George Massamore, and 21 were struck in each of three metals, with the addition of a unique one in gold for T. Harrison Garrett.<p>Massamore included in his November 1883 sale a statement from the maker of these restrikes, as follows:<p><em>"Baltimore, January 11th, 1883. This is to Certify, That I struck for DR. GEO. MASSAMORE, sixty-four Washington Medals, from the dies described by him in a circular, December 6th, 1882. the Medals struck were as follows:-21 each in silver, brass and copper, 1 in gold, I then destroyed the dies.</em><p><em>"JACOB GMINDER</em><p><em>"No. 10 S. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md."</em><p>The fact that Massamore went to such pains to clarify the nature of these medals suggests that he probably understood the fraudulent nature of the "originals." It seems clear that he felt compelled to distance himself from the original enterprise and to do whatever he could to legitimize his own commissioned restrikes.<p>Massamore recounted the story of these medals in a few of his sales of the early 1880s. This passage relates to the restrikes. It comes from his December 10, 1884 sale.<p><em>"...I resurrected the original dies at the Old Curiosity Shop, in Baltimore, in 1882, and in the presence of members of the Baltimore Numismatic Society, had struck 1 gold and 21 each in silver, brass and copper; the dies were destroyed on the spot, and presented to the society; sworn certificates to that effect accompanied each medal or set. They were mostly subscribed for in advance, at $5 for silver and $2.50 each for brass and copper, the few left were quickly disposed of..."</em><p>It would seem that Massamores own project was a grand success. To this day, the Massamore restrikes enjoy great popularity and are very infrequently offered for sale. This one is a lovely Choice example in copper. From the Ken Beukelaer Collection of Washington Pieces. Earlier ex Virgil Brand Collection; Anthony Terranova, date not recorded. Collector envelope and tag with attribution and provenance notes included.
