1797 (ca. 1859) Sansom Medal. First Reissue. Silver. 41 mm. Musante GW-59, Baker-72, Julian PR-1. MS-62 (PCGS).A gorgeous and scarce silver striking of the United States Mints first reissues of the popular Sansom medal, named for Joseph Sansom, to whose order the originals were produced ca. 1805. Deep, rich charcoal-olive patina blankets the obverse, the reverse with iridescent golden-apricot and cobalt blue undertones to antique silver and olive toning. Sharply defined throughout with appreciable reflectivity shining forth from the fields as the medal rotates under a light. Musante (2016) catalogs this variant of the Sansom medal as "R" (i.e., rare) and states that only 57 silver impressions were struck between 1861 and 1904.From the Ralph A. Edson Collection.