(1800) Skull and Crossbones Funeral Medal. Silver. 29 mm. Baker-165A, Musante GW-71, Fuld Dies 1-A1. Rarity-8. VF-35 (PCGS).；Neatly holed for suspension at 12 oclock, as issued. This is an endearing mid-grade example with richly original, even toning in charcoal-blue. The design is nicely centered on the planchet with bold definition to all major design elements. A few minor handling marks in the center of the obverse and along the lower border on the same side are noted for accuracy, but the general appearance of this piece is uncommonly smooth in a Washington Funeral medal that was worn or otherwise carried for a significant period of time.<p>The Father of Our Country, George Washington, passed into history on December 14, 1799. Few Americans, if any, held a place in the hearts of our forebears that was as sacred as that held by Washington, and the nation mourned for months. Sentiments such as "He is in Glory, the World in Tears" and "First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen" were familiar to every living American who had passed through the birth of our nation with Washington at the helm. Countless celebrations of Washingtons life and times followed almost immediately after his death and were held throughout the land from the largest cities to the smallest of hamlets. One such event, a funeral procession held by Masons -- Washington was a Mason -- took place in Boston, Massachusetts on February 11, 1800, the anniversary of Washingtons birth, and was attended by some 1,600 marchers and doubtless many more onlookers. It is thought the Skull and Crossbones Funeral medals were made for and worn by marchers and onlookers of this first great event. On February 22, a civic procession wound its way through the streets of Boston, again with large crowds and medallic tributes, this time with a funeral urn as the central motif on the medals.<p>The famous Skull and Crossbones medal was almost certainly made in early 1800, just weeks after Washington passed, but prior to the Masonic march held February 11. Virtually every example of the medal known is holed for suspension at the top, and were no doubt worn with pride at the Masons march and probably long afterwards, especially given the condition of many of the medals known today. We have sold several of these popular and scarce Skull and Crossbones medals in the past, including an EF example in our January 2014 Americana Sale that realized $41,125 after the bidding subsided. In our January 2013 Americana Sale, we sold an example identical in grade -- PCGS VF-35 -- to the present specimen that realized $27,348 after fierce bidding competition.；From the Antony Bettencourt Collection. Earlier ex our Baltimore Auction of June 2014, lot 1113. The plate example for the type in the 2016 reference <em>Medallic Washington, Volume 1: 1777-1860</em> by Neil Musante.
