1800 Hero of Freedom medal. Musante GW-81, Baker-79C. Copper, Fire Gilt. MS-61 (PCGS).38.4 mm. 426.0 grains. A charming example with this rare and coveted finish. Pale yellow gold with almost no breaks in the golden finish, which is highly unusual. Only at the very highest points of the relief and in places on the edge will one detect tiny traces of copper showing through. As these were fire gilt before striking, they are appealingly reflective in the fields and frequently show narrow radial outlines around the peripheral details where the movement of the metal toward the edges during striking tended to split the gilding around the tops of letters. A faint trace of this effect may be seen here. Sharply struck with excellent definition of all details. The boldly reflective surfaces are fragile and hairlined, as typically seen. One very thin scratch at the rim over GEO and a tiny cut on the truncation are the only imperfections worthy of mention. We have only seen two or three fire gilt examples in the last decade or so that might be considered comparable to this one or finer.<p>English engraver Obadiah Westwood is credited with the execution of this medal, presumably shortly after news of Washington’s death reached Sheffield, a month into 1800 at the earliest. The central reverse legend appears again on an English medal celebrating William Wilberforce’s re-election to the British Parliament in June, 1807 (British Historical Medals-626). The layout of the legend is virtually identical, within an oak wreath, and clearly by the same hand as this medal. BHM does not provide the identity of the maker of the Wilberforce medal.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
