1783 (ca.1805) Washington & Franklin, Peace of 1783 Medal by Sansom. Silver. 40.3 mm. 543.5 grains. Musante GW-92, Baker-58, Julian CM-5. Specimen-64 (PCGS). Premium Choice Uncirculated, nearly Gem, with a prooflike finish to both sides. Truly this is an exceptional example of this very rare medal. Both sides show full, deep mirror brilliance in the fields and toning of rich iridescent blue, rose, purple and russet. The surfaces are close to pristine and the light hairlines that are present are trivial compared to the overall superior quality of this piece. Sharply struck, the locations of the major U.S. cities of the day can be seen on the map on the reverse. Very rare, as only a small handful are estimated to survive; the Ford cataloger knew of only six different specimens as of May 2006. This piece is comparable to the Baker specimen, also certified Specimen-64 by PCGS, which realized $33,600 in our November 2019 Baltimore Auction. Both are finer than the Steinberg and LaRiviere examples as well as the one in Sansoms own set.This is the fourth and final entry in Joseph Sansoms series celebrating the History of the Revolution, the title he himself used on the case that held the three medals of the series he retained for himself (a set that we have had the pleasure of selling at auction <em>intact</em> more than once). The C.C.A.U.S. (Commander in Chief, Armies of the United States) medal was the first of the four, followed by the Presidency Relinquished medal, the Franklin/American Beaver medal, and finally, this one. They are immensely historic, engraved by the talented John Reich, extremely rare in silver, and rightfully prized by collectors to this day. This example is truly a pleasure to study and is certainly among the finest known. It would make a fine centerpiece for most collections of early American medals. Ex F.C.C. Boyd estate; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIV, May 2006, lot 340. Lot tag included.
