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George Washington Funeral Period Mourning Button

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
George Washington Funeral Period Mourning Button
Washington Buttons

George Washington Funeral Period “Mourning” Era Button

c. 1799 George Washington Funeral Period. “Mourning” Button. Copper. 25mm. Unlisted Design. No shank. Very Fine.

George Washington Mourning Buttons were worn in memory and in mourning of the Revolutionary War General and First President of the United States, George Washington. They were quickly produced upon notice of his death by various American silversmiths and engravers. This one is a relatively very large version, measuring 25mm, as compared the others this cataloger has seen. The few which have been offered for sale are normally much smaller oval cuff buttons.
This current example is clearly a larger coat or vest button. It depicts a large classic design funerary “Urn” at its center. There is an engraved design completely around the outside of the peripheries, with a fine inner ring, that appears to be in a pattern which is virtually identical to some of the official and known, circa 1789 George Washington Inaugural buttons. This is a one piece flat button with leather patina surfaces, its shank lacking and having no backmark, as is typical. The use of the outer denticles design feature, combined with its overall style appearance and natural copper-brown patina, lead to the our conclusion that this memorial button is appropriate to the George Washington funeral period. The very first of this design type we have offered.