1835 Colonel George Croghan medal. Original Dies. Copper, Bronzed. 65 mm. Julian MI-12. MS-65 BN (NGC). Handsome deep mahogany brown with pleasing soft luster and excellent eye appeal. A bit of natural surface oil and a couple of minuscule spots are noted under magnification but the surfaces are very nice. As noted in Julian, a specimen in the West Point Museum, believed to have been struck about 1885, has traces of rust or spalling on the bust and a fine crack, which he states “probably is indicative of the original obverse.” This one has similar features, but more than one fine crack through the letters of the obverse legend. The dies for the Croghan medal were the last of those for War of 1812 series to be completed. The gold specimen was not struck until 1837.
