Circa 1847 Washington Temperance Society / Mechanics Literary Association medal. Musante GW-173, Baker-341. Copper. MS-64 BN PCGS).41.6 mm. Attractive faded tan and light chocolate brown with soft rose, gold and blue-green toning highlights in the fields. Traces of faded red are also noted through the legends in the most protected recesses. Subtly reflective in the fields, more so on the Washington portrait side than on the Franklin side, as the latter die was in a very late state with considerable spalling or rust. Both sides have light die finishing lines in the fields, and those on the Washington die illustrate that this piece was struck close in time to the Temperance Society Award Medal mule (GW-175), as the die states on these medals are virtually identical. The Temperance Declaration medals and House of Temperance medals (Brass and White Metal), exhibit a different obverse die state, which is shared between them.<P>Comparison of all the pieces here reveals that the first struck was the copper House of Temperance, followed by this piece and the Award Medal, followed by the House of Temperance in brass and white metal and the Temperance Declaration medals in all three compositions.Ex Charles I. Bushnell, S.H. and H. Chapman, June 1882, lot 1413; William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
