Circa 1800 Westwood Medal. First Reverse. Musante GW-82, Baker-81B. White Metal, Silvered. AU-58+ (PCGS). 40.5 mm. 506.2 grains. Light silver gray with soft blue and rose toning around the obverse periphery, outlining Washington’s portrait and in some of the reverse fields. Apparently lightly silvered, but probably after striking as the microscopic texture in the recesses is not prooflike and smooth, but rather granular as sometimes seen on silvered pieces. The treatment is as unusual for this issue as is the overall appearance, but beneath the silvered surface, there are patches of the pesting usually seen on these in white metal. The details are quite crisp, with traces of the usual double striking on the reverse visible, and both the diameter and weight are appropriate for a white metal impression. With the pleasant color, this is in some ways much more attractive than the standard, often somewhat dull, white metal impressions. These are quite scarce, and close study of several others has suggested that they might in fact be die trials for the more commonly encountered bronzes. All seen (with opportunity for comparison) have been from earlier die states than comparative bronzes. This is the only one we recall with a silvered surface. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Paul Magriel via Paul Kagin, October 1970; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack’s) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part II, May 2004, lot 117; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
