1799 (ca. 1800) Washington Funeral Urn Medal. Silver. 29.12 mm. 131.4 grains. Musante GW-70, Baker-166A, Fuld Dies 1-B. Very Fine.Pierced for suspension at 12 oclock. Pleasing deep silver gray surfaces display pale silver fields and attractive old toning. The centers are sharp with full GW monogram still visible on urn. Some hairlines but no major marks. One of the most popular of all Washington-related items, the Funeral medals are known to have been worn while mourning Washingtons death, both in organized processions and thereafter. This sort of "you are there" history adds desirability lacking from many other Washington items, or numismatic items in general. This is a very pleasing silver striking.This medal is the product of Jacob Perkins, a talented engraver and inventor of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Such pieces, typically holed at the top, were produced in quantity and worn in various memorial parades, including on February 22, 1800, this being Washingtons birthday. Perkins was well known in both America and England and had business enterprises in both places. Numismatically he is remembered for such pieces as the token here offered, plus to an even greater extent, the Patent Stereotype Steel Plate used on many pieces of currency, plus his innovations in preventing counterfeits. Beyond that, in other fields he published papers on many aspects of physics, munitions, and other disciplines. One of his pet inventions was a steam-powered cannon, thought to dispense with powder. However, proving tests did not come up to expectations, and the idea was never adopted.From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks and American Numismatic Rarities) Medio and Da Costa Gomez Collections sale, June 2004, lot 2771. Collector tag with provenance notation included.
