1776 (ca. 1789) Washington Before Boston Medal. First Paris Mint Issue. First Issued "Original" Obverse / First Issued "Original" Reverse. Adams-Bentley 3, Musante GW-09-P1, Baker-47B, Julian MI-1. Bronze. Plain Edge. Specimen-63 BN (PCGS). 69.2 mm. A glorious example of this classic medallic type, one of the most eagerly sought by specialists in Washingtoniana. This is a lovely specimen, nearly Choice in preservation, both sides dressed in richly original reddish-brown patina. Light olive-copper highlights drift over the reverse and achieve concentration in the left field on the reverse. Full and impressive striking detail throughout this classic design, only minor handling marks preclude an even higher grade. Die erosion on the obverse is seen at and around Washingtons lowest hair curl, below the letter M in SUPREMO (shaped like an eyebrow or a sideways comma), above the letter E in ADSERTORI, in the field at the bases of the letters DS and ER in the same word, throughout the left obverse field, on Washingtons neck, and in the lower field around the word COMITIA.<p>The Washington Before Boston medal is a classic and immensely historic type. Though all are desirable, and there are numerous iterations which speak to a long tradition of desirability of the issue in general, original Paris Mint strikes in particular are by the far the most significant and enjoy the greatest demand. Original strikes are also rare; choice ones such as this are doubly so. Adams and Bentley found 52 original bronze strikings of this medal, incorporating those from this reverse (the "Original"), the error reverse, and the corrected version of the error reverse. Speculatively, there may be 50 specimens known from this particular die pair, a population weighted toward pieces whose non-numismatic distribution required them to submit to an unduly high level of handling, wear, and damage. Unlike later pieces struck for a primarily numismatic crowd after 1850, truly Gem originals are quite the exception. As an exceptionally well preserved survivor of the original Paris Mint striking, this lovely specimen would serve as a focal point in any advanced cabinet. From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation. Ex John Kraljevich.
