Undated (ca. 1841) Washington Temperance Benevolent Society or Tyrant Alcohol Medalet. Second Dies. Musante GW-163, Baker-332. Silver. Reeded Edge. MS-63 (PCGS). 21.0 mm. 49.7 grains. Without a suspension piercing and among the nicer examples we have encountered. Virtually brilliant silver surfaces exhibit only a trace of soft gray and champagne toning. Light spalling through the reverse field as usually seen on unpierced examples, but otherwise the fields are virtually prooflike and the piece has a lively appearance as a result. Sharply struck with crisp definition of the rims and reeded edge. Most of these tokens were produced in the 1840s for those who had sworn off alcohol as part of the sweeping temperance movement of the day. As such, most were pierced for suspension. These unpierced pieces, with their later die states, are probably slightly later collector strikes, but they are rare and quite desirable. Even the esteemed William Spohn Baker collection included one just like this, though the present one is struck much better. From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Ruddys) sale of the Stanley Scott Collection, 1975, lot 544.
