(1873) George F. Robinson Medal. Bronze. 77 mm. By Anthony C. Paquet. Julian PE-27. MS-65 BN (NGC).A second example of this impressive type, this bronze impression displays outstanding light brown color and is free of specks or spots, with high relief and virtually no signs of handling. This medal was struck to commemorate George F. Robinson, a soldier who was assigned to protect William H. Seward, the secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln. On the night of April 14, 1865, Lewis Powell, a co-conspirator to John Wilkes Booth, attempted to assassinate Seward in his Washington, D.C. home. That very night President Lincoln had gone to Fords Theater and was assassinated by Booth. Although Seward was attacked by Powell and suffered considerable stab wounds, he survived. Several of his children were also wounded, along with Robinson. These medals were issued with the obverse showing Robinsons bust left, the reverse with a wild scene of Seward in bed (still recuperating from a recent carriage accident) and Robinson defending against the knife-wielding Powell. The base of the reverse is signed in tiny letters G.Y. COFFIN DES. and PAQUET F. for the famed medal engraver. It is believed fewer than 100 of these were struck in bronze, and this example is likely one of the finest known today, perhaps the very finest.From our Chicago ANA Sale of August 2013, lot 114, as NGC MS-66 BN, insert #2597897-007.
