Washington Birth & Death


BIRTH AND DEATH

Fideli Certa Merces Medal

Obverse: Nude bust of Washington facing right, LOVETT / PHILA in 
small letters below bust, inscription around GEORGIUS WASHINGTON 
PRAES. PRIM. RER. CONF. AMER. MDCCLXXXIX.
 
Reverse: In center seated Minerva with right hand outstretched
holding a wreath, script RL on the seat, below the seat palm leaves and 
MDCCCLX, inscription around NATUS FEB. XXIIMDCCXXXII
OBIT DEC. XIV. MDCCXCIX. 
 
Musante GW-354, Baker 135, silver, 53mm
(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers - the Baker Collection)

Musante GW-354, Baker 135A, bronze, 53mm
 
Musante GW-354, Baker 135B, gilt bronze, 53mm
(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
Baker list a brass version and Neil Musante in "Medallic
Washington" repeats this but notes it is possibly gilt bronze.

Musante GW-354, Baker 135C, white metal, 53.2mm

Baker 135C var., silvered white metal, 53mm
 (image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)

Baker 135D, lead (die trial), 53mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Original dies for the Fideli Certa Merces Medal
(image courtesy of Joseph Allen Skinner Museum, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum) 
 
The obverse die was also used to produce a medal to commemorate
the opening of the Japanese Embassy in 1860 (GW-355) and the 1876 
International Exhibition in Philadelphia (GW-356). I suspect GW-354
was the original use, Robert Jr. later recycling it for the other two medals.

Birth, Death Medalet

Baker 136, silver, 31mm

Baker 136A, bronze, reeded edge, 31.22mm


Baker 136B, bronze, plain edge, 31mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Baker 136C, copper, reeded edge, 31mm

Baker 136D, copper, thick planchet, 31mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Baker 136E, white metal, reeded edge, 31.25mm


Baker 136F, white metal, plain edge, 31mm
IMAGE NEEDED

Baker 136G, copper, blank reverse, 31mm
IMAGE NEEDED