1798 Washington Seasons Medal. The Home. Musante GW-69, Baker-172A, Julian IP-52. Copper. VF Details--Damaged (PCGS). 48.3 mm. 694.3 grains. A well-used medal unquestionably among those actually presented to a Native American recipient, as intended. This was not the case for all Seasons medals, as some are known to have been saved as collectibles, but those that did their service enjoy an elevated degree of desirability in the rich history they carry. This, as all issued Seasons medals, was presented with a suspension loop. However, the hanger was lost and probably resulted in at least a temporary loss of the medal itself, contributing somewhat to the surface condition. A small mounting hole is noted in the edge where the hanger was originally affixed. To illustrate how rare this medal is with an original hanger, it is worth noting that just 17 surviving examples are known to the writer, and only one retains its original hanger. The surfaces can only be described as rough, with soft porosity, areas of tooling and small dents, but the detail is remarkably clear throughout, and the color is quite pleasing mottled brown. Several of the known Seasons medals have suffered unsightly damage, but this is really rather satisfying in hand despite the noted surface imperfections.<p>Though designed and intended to be issued during the second administration of George Washington, the Seasons medals, struck in Birmingham, England, did not arrive in the United States in time for such official distribution. John Adams was already sworn in by their arrival date in 1798, so they were distributed under his administration and during that of the next president, Thomas Jefferson. Famously, they were among the gifts carried by Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition in 1804.<p>Issued in three designs and in two metals, it seems that the Seasons medals might be plentiful, but that is certainly not borne out in the marketplace. Assembling a set is a great challenge that few have ever tried or succeeded at. Many collectors would find a single example of the series a satisfying acquisition but notably, the extensive Ronald A. Slovick Family Collection of Indian Peace medals in the present sale does not include any. From Heritages sale of the J. Doyle DeWitt Collection, October 2022, lot 43196.
