1800 (ca. 1860) Thomas Truxtun U.S.S. Constellation Medal. Bronzed Copper. 57.1 mm. Julian NA-2. Specimen-64 (PCGS).A lovely specimen of this very scarce medal with deep mahogany bronze surfaces that exhibit no distracting marks worthy of specific mention. Very uniform, glossy and with pleasing reflectivity in the obverse field. Struck from a U.S. Mint copy obverse and the original reverse, the latter exhibiting a bit of minor spalling in places. A February 2007 article in The Numismatist by Neuzil, Vaccaro, and Creekman estimated that just 25 examples were known from this particular mid-19th century die marriage. Those struck from the original obverse are of the utmost rarity, leaving collectors only this variety -- which still uses the original reverse -- or a modern 20th century striking to fill this place in their cabinet. Notably, the Ford collection did not include a Truxtun medal in any form.
