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-63 BN (PCGS).68.4 mm. 2149.6 grains. An exceptionally attractive example of this classic Washington medal, struck from relatively early state dies in a handsome composition. While some of the original Washington Before Boston medals come with a dark mahogany bronzed finish, this (and some others seen) were not bronzed, that treatment likely being applied to slightly later strikes from the dies intended specifically for sale to historical medal collectors. The surfaces here have a less contrived appearance, with variations in the natural bronze alloy visible throughout. While light olive brown is the dominant tone, subtle deep tan mottling is blended into the overall aesthetic, adding natural variation in tone and the aesthetic richness that comes with it. Glossy throughout with minimal scattered marks commensurate with the grade. None are worthy of specific mention. The edge, though now not visible in the holder, exhibits no visible collar marks.<p>Since the original gold presentation medal was struck for Washington in 1789, it seems that the Washington Before Boston medal has been widely considered a prized possession. Early on, silver and bronze medals were likely distributed to participants in the Siege of Boston, their families, friends, and others who celebrated Washingtons clever action atop Dorchester Heights, a pivotal and encouraging victory for the Continental Army that inspired the medal.<p>The Washington Before Boston has stood the test of time as a lasting memorial to Washington and his broader success in the cause of the American Revolution. The medals have been in production to some degree ever since the originals like this were struck, or at least comfortably into the 20th century, by both the Paris Mint and the United States Mint. Collections can be made of just this medal (with all the variations), but originals, as here, from the original Paris Mint dies have always been the most beloved and sought after. Not surprising, as these were from the same dies that struck Washingtons gold medal and are thus the tangible objects most closely related to the entire historic affair and the people involved-George Washington being central.<p>As is widely recognized, the obverse die used for the originals suffered spalling, likely in the process of hardening the steel. All known originals including Washingtons gold medal show various die failures in the form of an array of tiny lumps. With time and use, these advanced slightly in severity, while the reverse die also began to fail, forming a gentle bulge across the upper reverse in the finished medals. The advancement of these failures allows us to establish a degree of chronology among the surviving medals. The earliest die state of any Washington Before Boston medal we are aware of can be seen in precisely three medals: Washingtons original medal in gold; Washingtons original medal in silver (part of a cased set of Comitia Americana medals he once owned, now at the Massachusetts Historical Society), and a single original in bronze at the American Numismatic Society, a gift of Mrs. R. Henry Norweb in 1965. These can be distinguished by the absence of die crumbling between the ribbons of Washingtons peruke. We have seen no others without this crumbling, including the white metal obverse cliché that has appeared in two of our sales, first in August 2012 and then in our November 2019 sale of the John W. Adams Collection. That piece was clearly not a trial taken prior to striking finished medals as long believed, but rather an impression made after striking commenced, even if early on.<p>While not as early as the three medals mentioned above, this is also a very early die state and actually very similar to the cliché. The state of development of the additional spalling around the lower hair curls, near R and M of SUPREMO and over the E of ADSERTORI is not quite as developed as on many examples. In fact, a case can be made that this medal was also struck before the cliché as the small flaw beneath the lowest hair curl on this piece appears as two lumps joined almost by a hairline, while that on the cliché and most medals seen show a solid lump. Other features also appear slightly less well-developed. Musante noted that the lump seen on other originals was not on the cliché and though it is not visible in images of it, it must be there or have been tooled off, because it is on the earlier-state medals in gold, silver and bronze.<p>The dies for the gold medal were finished in the spring of 1789, and the finished medal was displayed at the Salon of 1789 that summer in Paris. It was then hand-carried to the United States by Thomas Jefferson in October 1789 for presentation to Washington. The circumstances of the presentation are not known to have been documented, but Adams and Bentley presume Jefferson delivered it to Washington when they met in New York on March 21, 1790.<p>This piece was probably gifted or sold to a prominent European collector of historical medals in the final years of the 18th century. It was discovered in an English sale in 2019 and is almost certainly being offered in North America for the first time.From the John M. Pack Collection. Earlier from Baldwins of St. James Auction 37, September 2019, lot 574; Stacks Bowers Galleries, via direct sale, October 2019.
