Circa 1800 Westwood medal. Second reverse. Musante GW-83, Baker-80B. Copper, Fire Gilt. MS-63 (PCGS).40.6 mm. 519.6 grains. Bright greenish yellow gold surfaces and strong reflectivity in the fields give this piece bold eye appeal. Typical of these fire gilt medals, the fragile fields are hairlined, though this is more noticeable on the obverse where they’re most vulnerable. There are tiny dark flecks on the obverse, but the gilt surface only shows the slightest breaks on the highest points of the design and, to a lesser degree, radially outward from the peripheral design elements where the flow of metal during the striking process stretched the gilding too much. Upon close inspection it is clear that the planchet had been heavily filed prior to striking as some of these file marks remain on the reverse rim. These are beneath the gilding and certainly not post-striking. They are reminiscent of the Hero of Freedom medal offered earlier that we suspected was struck over a British twopence. Similarly, the rims are a bit imprecise in their definition and irregular, which is certainly not the case with the bronzed piece offered above. While we do not recall having seen Westwood medals overstruck, it is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. In either case, this is a lovely fire gilt Westwood medal.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
