1805 Bronze Medal GW-88 - Eccleston

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 85 and Musante GW-88, the 1805 Eccleston Medal in bronze is one of the notable early 19th-century additions to the growing corpus of Washington commemorative medals produced in the years following his death in December 1799. The Eccleston Medal takes its name from its association with the Eccleston family or its commissioner, and it features a distinctive portrait style that departs from the more familiar Washington likenesses found on earlier medals, reflecting the evolving artistic interpretation of Washington's image as different engravers brought their individual sensibilities to the task of commemorating the founding father. Produced in 1805, six years after Washington's death, this medal belongs to a transitional period in Washington medallic art when the focus shifted from mourning pieces produced in the immediate aftermath of his passing to more reflective commemorative works intended for the collector and memorial market. The bronze composition places this among the standard-metal strikings, more accessible than rare silver or gold versions but still scarce enough to merit attention from Washington medal specialists. The period from 1800 to 1830 saw a steady stream of Washington medals produced by various engravers and manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic, each contributing a new portrait interpretation or commemorative theme to the medallic record, and the Eccleston Medal's distinctive portrait style makes it a recognizable and sought-after entry in the GW catalog sequence.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The Eccleston Medal is a notable early 19th-century Washington medal.

Cross References

Baker 85; Musante GW-88