No Date Medal GW-Unlisted Brass 28mm Martha Washhington Memorial

Coin Details

Description

This undated brass memorial medal of 28 mm diameter honoring Martha Washington is notable for being unlisted in the standard Musante GW catalog and Baker reference — a genuinely uncataloged piece that falls outside the comprehensive numbering systems that organize the known universe of Washington-related medals. The double-H spelling "Washhington" on the piece raises the question of whether this represents a die-cutting error, a deliberate variant, or evidence of foreign manufacture where the engraver was unfamiliar with the correct English spelling. Medals honoring Martha Washington are far less common than those featuring George Washington, reflecting the historical tendency to focus medallic commemoration on military and political leaders rather than their spouses. Martha Washington's significance as the first First Lady and her role in maintaining morale at Valley Forge and other Revolutionary War encampments made her a figure of genuine public admiration, yet relatively few medals were produced in her honor compared to the hundreds cataloged for George. The brass composition (a copper-zinc alloy) was commonly used for inexpensive commemorative medals and tokens during the 18th and 19th centuries. Rare as an unlisted piece, this medal holds particular numismatic interest precisely because it exists outside the standard catalog framework, potentially representing a previously undocumented die, manufacturer, or commemorative occasion awaiting formal scholarly classification.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Unlisted Martha Washington medals are very uncommon.

Cross References

GW-Unlisted; Baker unlisted