Circa 1841 Washington Temperance Benevolent Society or Tyrant Alcohol medalet. Musante GW-163, Baker-332. Silver. MS-64 (PCGS).20.9 mm. 51.5 grains. Lustrous light silver with a dusting of slate and steel toning. Somewhat softly struck with the portrait of Washington drawing most of the metal from the central star on the reverse, but other details are fairly sharp and even. A high-grade specimen with reeding that is a bit sharp to the touch. Extensive spalling on the reverse.<p>These were issued by the Washington Temperance Benevolent Society, which Musante states was founded in Baltimore in April 1840. They were intended to be worn by recipients who had adopted the temperance lifestyle and sworn off alcohol. Those holed are consistently so, which speaks to the fact that they were issued as such. These are very rare in this unpierced format and not often seen as fresh and high grade as here. Out of the seven auction appearances of this type in silver in our sales over the last 15 years, only a single specimen has been without the suspension hole. It was likewise from a heavily spalled reverse, while the pierced ones do not show the spalling as well developed. This suggests that these unpierced pieces are possibly somewhat later collector strikes, though we are aware of at least one unpierced copper example in the earlier die state.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
