1798 Washington Seasons medal. The Shepherd. Musante GW-67, Baker-170A, Julian IP-51. Copper. SP-61 BN (PCGS).48.2 mm. 746.7 grains. Light to medium rosy copper surfaces have somewhat toned back after having been cleaned. Hairlines persist in the fields, yet some attractive light blue and violet iridescence is now seen in the recesses and even to a small degree through the fields. Nice reflectivity remains on both sides. There are some scattered handling marks and the intricacies of the tree leaves and sheep’s wool have patinated to a degree, suggestive of mild oxidation. While handled, this medal shows no signs of having been among those issued and is almost certainly among the small few struck for collectors. Though the appeal might not be the equal of a presented medal, this variant is likely much rarer. In fact, Musante stated that 21 sets of silver medals were ordered without suspension loops, along with seven such sets in copper. If this is historically accurate, then collectors’ medals in copper are the rarest of all Seasons variants.<p>This piece is struck from the late state of the reverse die and it is the only one of the three copper examples without the Baker number on the edge in red. This might yield a clue as to the source of this number. We suspect that it might have been applied to a selection of medals put on display so that they might be easier to account for when returned to the Baker cabinet, though this is not known to have happened for at least three decades.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
