Circa 1805 Sansom Medal. Original. Early Impression. Musante GW-58, Baker-71A, var. Bronze, Fire Gilt. Plain edge. AU Details—Graffiti (PCGS).40.5 mm. 404.3 grains. Light golden surfaces with some losses of the gilding on the highest points of the motifs and around the outer edges of the rims. Series of small digs and scratches in the center of each side are unfortunate, but not as distracting as they would have been in the fields. Though a few light scratches do extend into the right obverse field, the overall impression given by a fire gilt Sansom perhaps outweighs them in significance, to a degree. This is a very rare variant, and the first example we recall having seen. It was unknown to Baker in 1885 and still not included even in the 1999 Rulau-Fuld revision of his reference. It was also unknown to Neil Musante and is not mentioned in his <em>Medallic Washington</em>. Though a bit imperfect, it is certainly eye-catching for its unusual format and may, in fact, be unique.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from Mayflower Coin Auctions, lot 603 from an unidentified sale.
