Circa 1857 Born in Virginia medal by C.C. Wright and F.B. Smith. Musante GW-204, Baker-133. Bronze. SP-64 (PCGS).64.2 mm. 1888.5 grains. Glossy light olive and chestnut brown on the obverse with a bit of deeper patina in the legends, outlining the central device and within its finer recesses. The reverse is more even chocolate brown with similar deeper color in the recesses and a trace of slight surface roughness within the wreath at the lower right. Otherwise, glossy on that side as well. The fields exhibit just a trace of soft reflectivity, which adds to the overall eye appeal. A few tiny speckles here and there, but no abrasions or marks worth singling out.<p>This is a very rare type, with just seven medals struck about 1857 at the request of Charles Bushnell who circa 1857 owned the obverse die by C.C. Wright. Two were said to have been struck in silver, three in bronze and two in white metal. This information was provided in the Chapman brothers’ cataloging of Bushnell’s cabinet in 1882, and is probably very reliable since Bushnell commissioned the pieces in the first place. One complete set of three appeared in the Bushnell sale and sold to T. Harrison Garrett. We sold those in 1981. According to Musante, Isaac F. Wood bought the other complete set, though only the silver example appeared in his 1894 sale. The Baker medal is either the third struck in bronze, or one Isaac Wood sold out of his collection at some point prior to the 1894 sale. A superb medal and extremely rare. This is the Musante plate piece.Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.