Commems Collection Medals: 1876 George Washington - Centennial Exposition

I'm not a dedicated Washingtonia collector, but I do have a few historical commemorative medals that feature a portrait of the first US President.

Here I offer up a bronze medal struck in conjunction with the US Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876. It was designed and engraved by George Hampden Lovett, a noted diesinker of New York (he was born in Philadelphia; his brother - Robert Lovett, Jr. - was also a diesinker, but based in Philadelphia).

The medal's obverse presents a right-facing portrait of George Washington based on the Jean-Antoine Houdon bust. Seen are 13 six-pointed stars, symbolic of the 13 colonies that declared their independence from the British throne and became the 13 original states, forming a large arch around the bust. Encircling at the rim, and framing below the bust, is the inscription: TO COMMEMORATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE / DECLARATION / OF INDEPENDENCE. (Note the shift in font style - with serifs to sans-serif.)

The design on the reverse features clasped hands at the center, with rays emanating from behind them. The inscription INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION AT PHILADELPHIA is found between a central circle of beads (around the hands) and an oak wreath near the rim. (The clasped hands design is reminiscent of the 1875 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Centennial Medal.)

The medal was one of dozens privately-struck medals produced on the occassion of the Centennial Exposition of 1876. It was struck in gold, silver, bronze and brass. Actual mintage totals are unknown, but all are considered scarce with the silver and gold pieces being decidely rare.

1876 George Washington - US Centennial - Union Forever Medal



For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.