1776 (ca. 1789) Washington Before Boston Medal. First Paris Mint Issue. First Issued "Original" Obverse / First Issued "Original" Reverse. Musante GW-09-P1, Baker-47B, Adams-Bentley 3. Bronze. Plain Edge. MS-61 BN (NGC).69.2 mm. An attractive and desirable example of this classic medallic type, one of the most eagerly sought by specialists in Washingtoniana. This really is a lovely specimen, both sides dressed in richly original autumn and olive-brown patina that is warmer on the reverse. Full and impressive striking detail throughout the design, a few minor to moderate handling marks in the expansive field areas account for the MS-61 numeric grade from NGC. Die erosion on the obverse is seen at and around Washingtons lowest hair curl, below the letter M in SUPREMO (shaped like an eyebrow or a sideways comma), above the letter E in ADSERTORI, in the field at the bases of the letters DS and ER in the same word, throughout the left obverse field, on Washingtons neck, and in the lower field around the word COMITIA.<p>The Washington Before Boston medal is a classic and immensely historic type. Though all are desirable, and there are numerous iterations which speak to a long tradition of desirability of the issue in general, original Paris Mint strikes in particular are by the far the most significant and enjoy the greatest demand. Original strikes are also rare. Adams and Bentley found 52 original bronze strikings of this medal, incorporating those from this reverse (the "Original"), the error reverse, and the corrected version of the error reverse. Speculatively, there may be 50 specimens known from this particular die pair, a population weighted toward pieces whose non-numismatic distribution required them to submit to an unduly high level of handling, wear, and damage. Unlike later pieces struck for a primarily numismatic crowd after 1850, truly Gem originals are quite the exception. As a well preserved survivor of the original Paris Mint striking, this lovely specimen would serve as a focal point in any advanced cabinet.
