Circa 1856 Eight Presidents medal. Restrike with William H. Bridgens’ signature removed. Musante GW-153R, Baker-221E. Bronze. MS-63 (PCGS).46.2 mm. 864.2 grains. Gently mottled deep tan and olive brown with subtle traces of reflectivity in the eight portrait medallions on the obverse, but a rather more satiny finish in the reverse fields. One light oxidation spot is noted at the base of Van Buren’s bust, while an anomaly on the rim left of the “James Maddison” portrait appears <em>as made</em>. No serious marks or imperfections worthy of mention. Both dies have been heavily reground, with loss of detail seen in the presidential portraits, mostly where the recesses of their bust details fade unnaturally away into the fields. Double struck on the reverse and with “W.H. BRIDGENS / NEW. YORK.” ground off the die, as is the case on all of the circa 1856 restrikes. These are seen in both bronzed copper and in white metal, the latter being the more frequently encountered. The white metal examples are poorly made in comparison to the originals, but the few we have handled on thick bronzed flans, as here, have been superb executions of the design, even though the dies had been reworked. Not only are they better made, they are quite a bit rarer. We have seen only two other specimens in this composition over the last 15 years.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
