1860 U.S. Mint Cabinet Medal. Bronze. 59.6 mm. Musante GW-241, Baker-326A, Julian MT-23. Choice About Uncirculated.Handsome deep olive-copper patina blankets both sides of this smartly impressed, sharply defined example. Modestly semi-reflective in the fields around the central design elements. <p>One of the most impressive and numismatically oriented of all medals struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the nineteenth century is this 59.8 mm. piece from dies by assistant Mint engraver Anthony C. Paquet. The time was February 22, 1860, and the occasion for its presentation was the dedication of the Washington Cabinet of Medals as part of the Mint Collection. Specimens in copper and silver were made available to the public.<p><p>The obverse depicts President Washington after the famous bust by Jean Antoine Houdon, the image found on most all Washington tokens and medals issued during this era by the Mint as well as by private medalists. In 1932 it was adapted for use on the Washington quarter dollar.<p><p>The reverse features the Washington Cabinet and illustrates a bust of Washington atop a four-sided display case. Some 35 medals and tokens are shown on the side facing the viewer, and another 20 are on the panel at the right-giving this "medal about medals" a special niche in numismatics, a long-time favorite.<p><p>On June 4, 1853, James Ross Snowden was confirmed as the new director of the Mint, after the death of Judge Thomas Pettit, who had served in the post for less than two months. Perhaps more than any of his predecessors in the post, Snowden developed an interest in numismatics. Under his watch, in 1858 the sales of Proof coins and sets as well as patterns were vastly expanded.<p><p>In 1859, when contemplating the Mint Cabinet display of coins, which had been inaugurated in June 1838, he noticed that there were only four or five medals depicting George Washington. Upon inquiry to other numismatists he learned that at least 60 varieties were known. Information was scarce, and to that point there were no generally used reference books on either medals or coins.<p><p>With a passion Snowden set about adding pieces to the cabinet, trading Proof coins, freshly-made restrikes, and other coins for them. By 1860 he had gathered 138 specimens. The Washington exhibit in the Mint Cabinet remained an attraction long thereafter. In 1861 his 203-page book, Medallic Memorials of Washington, was published. Illustrated by fine steel engravings, it was widely acclaimed in its time.<p>According to R.W. Julians records (reported in Musante, 2016), only 202 of these medals were struck in bronze.<p><p>From our March 2012 sale, lot 312.
