1790 Manly Medal. Original Dies. J. MANLY & c. Removed. Musante GW-10, Baker-61A. White Metal. AU-58 (PCGS).48.1 mm. 494.3 grains. Handsome lightly mottled pewter gray with a mostly light appearance but a few areas of slightly darker gray patina are noted. The reverse is a bit more mottled and slightly darker than the obverse. Both sides have some fairly superficial oxidation, the most obvious a slightly darker area in the central reverse. Still, pleasing light silver gray outlines are seen around most of the motifs, and the quality overall is very nice. Well struck and sharp. The variant with MANLY removed from the lower reverse, an alteration that seems roughly contemporary to the issue and distribution. There are enough of these known to identify them as a subvariant of the issue, but unfortunately the explanation for this has thus far eluded us. It is a feature observed on examples in silver, brass and white metal.<p>Though we have enjoyed what might be called a flurry of offerings over the last few years, this is legitimately a rather scarce issue in this composition. Before 2019, it had been nine years since we had seen any example. This is one of just 27 specimens in the present writers census and it has been off the market for more than four decades.From the Richard August Collection. Earlier from Presidential Coin & Antique Co., Inc.s Sale #30, Part I, May 1981, lot 25.
