1799 (ca. 1922) Vermeil Mint Medal. Bronze. 76.4 mm. By George T. Morgan. Baker-174LF. MS-66 (NGC).Little is known about this exceedingly rare George Washington medal, although clues about its origin exist in the form of the MORGAN signature on the truncation of the bust and the original case in which it is housed, which is similar to those used to house the Warren G. Harding Memorial medal issued by the United States Mint in 1922. The reverse design is an imitation of the reverse used on Indian Peace medals, issued under various presidents during the 1800s, although that series never included an issue portraying our nations first president. The MORGAN signature is that of George T. Morgan, the engraver of both this medal and the Harding medal, who is best known for his work in the late 1800s (most famously the Morgan silver dollar first issued in 1878), although he was employed at the United States Mint until his death in 1925. Apparently this medal was produced at the U.S. Mint circa 1922, perhaps in connection with the end of World War One, but given the rarity of specimens the types production run seems to have been short lived. The present specimen exhibits an obverse die crack running vertically through Washingtons portrait, which may indicate early die breakage that resulted in few examples being produced. More research is certainly needed to solve this mystery. Housed in the original fitted case of issue, as related above, and accompanied by NGC Photo Certificate #1519267-006 with a grade of MS-66, which confirms this piece as the finest known for the type. The date of production is incorrectly listed on the NGC Photo Certificate as (C1932).
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