1790 Manly medal. Original dies. J. Manly & c. removed from the reverse. Musante GW-10, Baker-61B. Brass. AU-53 (PCGS).48.6 mm. 587.3 grains. Glossy and rather uniform light olive brown on the obverse, with faint traces of faded original golden brass in places. The reverse is similar, but with light mottling and a bit of deeper patina through the legends. A mildly ruddy area is around the PR of PRESIDENT and, likewise, where the engraver’s signature had been. Still, traces of lustrous golden orange are seen toward the upper left of the legend, at GENERAL and AMERICAN.<p>Scattered natural voids from the cast planchet are seen and the piece is double struck on the reverse, though not as dramatically as on the medal above. Mostly well-detailed with just the lowest lines of the reverse, below PRESIDENT, slightly weakened. Sharply struck otherwise and nicely centered with full rims.<p>One of the mysterious variants with Manly’s name chased from the lower reverse, though on this example the date, 1790, remains visible. It is unclear who did this, why or when, but there are so many that have been so-treated, that it makes for a separate variety worthy of collection by a specialist. Undoubtedly, there is a story to be told and perhaps someday a researcher will stumble upon the answer.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
