1799 (ca. 1800) Washington Funeral Urn Medal. Musante GW-70, Baker-166C, Fuld Dies 1-B. White Metal. EF Details--Rim Damage (PCGS).Pierced for suspension as 12 oclock, as all seen. The dies for these medals were cut by Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and the pieces were struck in early 1800 in preparation for the February 22nd civic funeral procession in Boston. There are at least six die combinations known, suggestive of a large production and they seem to have been distributed widely. However, in all metals but gold they are often seen in hard worn to Extremely Fine condition, as here. White metal pieces are often pested and deep gray, with other impairments in the soft metal. The offered specimen is superior in this regard with warm, even color in pewter gray to surfaces that show only a few moderate marks, the most significant of which are at the right obverse and left reverse borders to explain the PCGS qualifier. An immensely historic type that is eminently collectible at all levels of preservation.
