1776 (post-1860) Washington Before Boston Medal. First U.S. Mint Issue. Gunmetal Dies. Musante GW-09-US1, Baker-49, Julian MI-1. Bronze. Specimen-63 (PCGS).68.5 mm. Plain square edge. A handsome piece with a few blushes and streaks of pale autumn-orange to otherwise richly toned antique copper surfaces. The design elements are sharply struck in bold relief, surfaces lustrous with a nice frosty texture. The expansive upper reverse field area is remarkably smooth with only a few trivial blemishes, left and right obverse field has a couple of faint pin scratches and a few other marks that account for the Specimen-63 grade. This is a rare medal. The first recorded delivery from these dies was 10 pieces in 1864. By the time these dies had deteriorated beyond usefulness in the first half of 1885, a total of 145 bronzes had been struck (and one example in silver). The biggest single year mintage was 37 in 1868.<p>As the very first variety of Washington Before Boston medal produced in the United States, struck during the boom of interest in American numismatics generally and Washington material (and medals) more specifically, this scarce variety deserves more interest and demand than it gets. These medals are at least a magnitude rarer than their contemporary Paris Mint restrike counterparts.
