(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button. LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT, Closely Spaced GW in Oval. Cobb-5, Albert WI-11A, DeWitt-GW 1789-7. Brass. Extremely Fine. 33.8 mm. With the original shank. A lovely example of this classic type with somewhat olive-brass surfaces that exhibit the subtle flash of an ancient polishing, the mark of a much prized artifact that one can easily imagine being a bright golden ornament on an 18th century coat. The color has pleasantly mellowed over the years and the eye appeal is superb. A gentle bend near the rim and a few scattered marks and scratches point to a button that was probably proudly worn for some time, but also respectably cared for. Though this general type is considered among the most common of these historic buttons, and even this variety has been called "common," a review of our archives suggest that this specific variety is somewhat scarcer. In fact, we have only two examples of Cobb-5 in our online records. Aside from the noted bend, the overall quality is not that different from J. Harold Cobbs own example that we last sold in January 2012 for $5,750.
