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(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button, Large Star Surround /13 Smaller Stars

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button, Large Star Surround /13 Smaller Stars
Washington Buttons
Rare George Washington Inaugural Button “Unity Prosperity & Independence” Legend with Large Central “Star” and Surrounded by 13 Smaller Stars, Albert WI-PC2, Cobb-21
(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button, “Unity, Prosperity & Independence” Legend Button with Large Central “Star” and Surrounded by 13 Smaller Stars, Cobb-21, Albert PC-2, DeWitt-GW 1789-12, Baker-1012, Brass, with Original Shank Reattached, Very Fine.
34 mm. Listed by Cobb as Rarity-6 (One of 3 Known). Albert classifies this type as a Patriotic Button, but the J. H. Cobb catalog of Washington Buttons lists this as a Washington Inaugural Button (Cobb-21), and is accepted by the numismatic community as such. Traces of either red or black paint can be seen in the spaces around the letters and stars. Apparently the paint has partially changed color over the years. The surface color is light brown with some porosity. The original shank on the back has been reattached. The revised Cobb catalog (available online) says only 3 examples of this button are known, and lists 2 of the other owners. Though listed by Cobb, he apparently did not own this piece as it was not present in his collection, sold January 21-23, 2003 in Stack’s Americana sale, lot numbers 1326-1365.

The detail is sharper than indicated by the grade, displaying the detail of a Very Fine or even better, but clearly a ground find bearing a crusty brick-red and deep steel mottled patina largely in the recesses, with the outstanding prominent devices somewhat more of an even brown, though the entirety is granular. Some of the visible texture is natural, as this design type has a deeply textured surfaces within the recessed fields. A very rare Washington Inaugural button, of which Harold Cobb had confirmed only three existent as of 1968. Since then a few more have come to market, mostly dug and in poor quality, yet this major type remains very rare. Harold Cobb imaged and plated these among his Washington Inaugurals, as did DeWitt, Richard Rulau, and George Fuld when they added this section to their Baker reference book revision in 1999.