MISCELLANEOUS WASHINGTON TOKEN AND MEDALS
George and Martha Washington Medalets
GW-265, Baker 208, silver - plain edge, 20.9mm
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(image courtesy of Steve Hayden)
GW-265, Baker 208A, silver - reeded edge, 20.9mm
IMAGE NEEDED
GW-265, Baker 208B, copper, 20.9mm
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(image courtesy of Mark Cramer)
GW-265, Baker 208C, brass, 20.6mm
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GW-265, Baker 208D, nickel, 20.9mm
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GW-265, Baker 208E, copper nickel, 20.9mm
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(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
GW-265, Baker 208F, white metal, 20.9mm
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(image courtesy of Steve Hayden)
GW-264, Baker 209, silver, 20mm
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GW-264, Baker 209A, copper, 20mm
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GW-264, Baker 209B, nickel, 20mm
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Cogan / Idler Mules
These small medalets have been called Cogan / Idler mules because
the obverse is used on William Idler storecards and the
reverse die is used on Edward Cogan storecards. Rulau says
this muling was done by Robert Jr. without the knowledge of
Cogan or Idler. He has them listed under Edward Cogan and in
Baker they are found in the chapter "Medals With Historic Figures"
following the George and Martha Washington medalets.
GW-269, Baker 208N, PA 98A, silver, 20mm
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Baker list plain edge only, Musante says plain and
reeded edge, Rulau has no reference to the edge
GW-269, Baker 208P, PA 92, copper, plain edge, 20mm
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PA 92A, copper, thick planchett, plain edge, 20mm
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GW-269, copper, reeded edge, 20mm
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GW-269, Baker 208M, PA 93, brass, plain edge, 20mm
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GW-269, PA 94, brass, reeded edge, 20mm
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(image courtesy of Stacks Bowers)
GW-269, Baker 208Q, PA 91, white metal, plain edge, 20mm
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GW-269, PA 95, white metal, reeded edge, 20mm
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PA 95A, silvered white metal, reeded edge, 20mm
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(on line image)
Rulau does not mention the edge for this variety, plain
edge examples my exist.
PA 97, copper nickel, plain edge, 20mm
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PA 98, copper nickel, reeded edge, 20mm
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(image courtesy of Chuck MacMonegle)
Order United American Mechanics Medalets
GW-812, Baker 336, silver, 25mm
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GW-812, Baker 336A, copper, 25mm
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GW-812, Baker 336B, brass, 25mm
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GW-812, Baker 336C, Gilt, 25mm
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The Order United American Mechanics began in Philadelphia in the early 1840's as a response to the anti-alien
sentiment of the time. Originally called The Union of Workers it
attracted tradespeople wanting to protect their interest from
immigrants. It soon gained membership from clerks, merchants, and minor
public functionaries. Only whites were admitted and their membership was
never large, many people being more interested in the insurance
benefits provided than their anti- foreigner stance.
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First President / Awarded To Medal
GW-357, Baker 355, silver plated tin (90.88% tin, 7.99% silver, trace of lead and copper), 51mm
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The listing for this medal in the original Baker text states "the
bust on this piece, which appears to exist in but a single specimen,
resembles very closely that of No. 135 by Robert Lovett Jr. And in all
probability is the work of that engraver". The Rulau Fuld text calls it
the work of Robert Sr. which is certainly not correct. Neil Musante says there are three known specimens - one in the Pennsylvania Historical Society, another at the Massachusets Historical Society, and the one pictured above.
Although the bust
is similar to Baker 135, the Fideli Certa Merces medal, it is not the
same. And the "Awarded To" reverse die looks like several other dies but
I have not seen this exact design on his works. So what is this and is
it by Robert Jr? What is particularly intriguing is the intricate
engraving around the rim on both dies. What this Robert Jr. showing off
for a prospective customer? Is this a specimen piece he struck up for a
particular client but was never used? Did he strike this thinking he
could sell it as a generic medal to be engraved by the purchaser only to
never follow through? My guess is we'll never know exactly what this
is.
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Japanese Embassy Medals
GW-355, Baker 368, silver, 51mm
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(image courtesy of Stack's Bowers)
GW-355, Baker 368B, brass, 51mm
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GW-355, Baker 368A, bronze, 53.1mm
in original case of issue
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GW-355, Baker 368C, white metal, 51mm
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GW-355, Baker 368C var., silvered white metal, 51mm
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(image courtesy of Heritage)
The Stuart Portrait Plaque
GW-221, copper, 30.7mm
Obverse: Bust and torso of Washington in civilian dress, three
quarters to the right on a field of lines within a beaded circle, Lovett in
script off the right shoulder.
Reverse: Blank with lead residue
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What exactly is this? The example listed in "Medallic Washington"
is 38mm and has a wide decorative rim which is missing from this
example but the rest of the design is the same so I assume it is a
cut down example. Neil list this as Robert Sr but because of the
script style signature I am calling it Robert Jr. as he had used this
style signature. He also list it as brass but this one is almost
certainly copper.
That still leaves the question of what it is? It is a very thin, light piece as if it is
half a shell. It has been suggested it was a die trial. There are no
medals I know of that use that design although it is very similar
to the obverse of Robert Jr's 'Unity of Government' medal, GW-432,
pictured below. And what about the lead on the reverse? The
example in "Medallic Washington" appears to have that same
residue. Could it have been used to bond it to something?
Obverse of GW-432
Dickeson's Coin & Medal Safe
Baker 530, silver, 33mm
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Baker 530A, copper, 32mm
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Baker 530B, brass, 32mm
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Baker 530C, copper nickel, 32mm
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Baker 530D, white metal, 32mm
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Baker 616, copper, 32mm
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(image courtesy of Stack's Bowers)
This muling utilizes the
reverse die from Dickeson's Sommer Island shilling copies; the
Washington Security die was also muled with the obverse die of the
Sommer Island piece. And both Sommer Island dies were muled with the
"Coin and Medal Safe" dies. Russell Rulau states "Most likely Robert
Lovett Jr. prepared the dies for the Sommer Island shilling copies, and
their derivative storecards".
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Civil War Dog Tag
Baker 621A, gilt brass, 32mm
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I include this here not because it is a work of Robert Jr. but because
it does utilize his die. Thomas Elder struck these circa 1917 using the
Washington Security die plus the reverse he created. These were never
used as dog tags and should be considered fantasy pieces. They are
found in a variety of medals and are fairly common.
Octagonal Washington Medal
Baker N-652, copper, 24 x 27mm
I am including this here since Rulau/Fuld included it in their text but
this is nothing more than a defaced medal. There is no detail left to determine
which medal was cut down and manipulated but it is Robert Jr's Washington bust.
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I am including this here since Rulau/Fuld included it in their text but
this is nothing more than a defaced medal. There is no detail left to determine
which medal was cut down and manipulated but it is Robert Jr's Washington bust.