1790 Bronze Medal GW-10 - The Manly Medal

Coin Details

Auction Record

$12,000 • EF45 • 01-2017 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Baker 61 and Musante GW-10, this bronze (AE) striking of the Manly Medal ranks among the most important and artistically accomplished early Washington medals in American numismatics. Commissioned in 1790 by Captain Thomas Manly (also rendered Samuel Manly in some sources) of the Continental Army, the medal honors George Washington with a finely executed portrait on the obverse and a reverse commemorating the British evacuation of Boston on March 17, 1776 — one of the earliest significant American military victories of the Revolutionary War. The evacuation was forced when General Henry Knox's artillery, hauled overland from Fort Ticonderoga, was positioned on Dorchester Heights overlooking the harbor, compelling British General William Howe to withdraw his forces by sea. The Manly Medal's artistic quality sets it apart from many contemporary Washington medals; the sensitive and naturalistic portrait captures Washington with a dignity and presence that reflects the finest traditions of 18th-century medallic portraiture. Rare and highly sought after, the bronze Manly Medal represents the standard-composition striking and is more accessible than the extremely rare silver version, though bronze examples remain genuinely scarce and command significant prices at auction. The medal occupies a distinguished position in the Washington medal canon as one of the finest artistic achievements in early American numismatic art, combining historical significance with exceptional design quality.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The Manly Medal is one of the most sought-after early Washington medals.

Cross References

Baker 61; Musante GW-10