1800 Washington Hero of Freedom medal. Baker-79, Musante GW-81. Copper. MS-62 BN (PCGS).<p>415.0 grains. Deep mahogany brown with dark olive highlights and impeccable visual appeal. A thoroughly attractive example of this memorial medal, struck in the months after Washington’s death for the British and American markets. The relief of the portrait has been fully and accurately brought up by multiple strikes, which have left some evidence of their multiplicity in the peripheral obverse legends. A little harmless old verdigris clings to peripheral legends and around the devices, suggestive of nothing other than originality. The bottom of the reverse rim has been filed, as issued, though a little nick near 7:00 on that raised rim is a post-issuance contact point. This is an elegant medal in any grade, but it was bound for a marketplace of non-collectors; as such, most are heavily handled or mishandled. This one has been far more nicely preserved than most.PCGS Population: 1; none finer.From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s, privately, August 1980.
