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c. 1805 George Washington Eccleston Medal. Baker-85. Struck in Bronze

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD
c. 1805 George Washington Eccleston Medal. Baker-85. Struck in Bronze
Washington Medals
Popular 1805 George Washington “Eccleston” Medal B-85
c. 1805 Washington Eccleston Medal. Struck in Bronze. Baker-85. About Uncirculated.
76 millimeters. Rarity-6. This scarce large size historical Tribute Medal is to George Washington. The Obverse design: Large Washington bust right, in distinctive armored garb with legend reading, “INSCRIBED TO HIS MEMORY BY D. ECCLESTON, LANCASTER.” William S. Baker called the armor design, "a singular conceit." The Reverse design shows: Three-line concentric “tribute” around a standing Native American Indian from the 1775 Deeds of Peace Medal with legend reading, “THE LAND WAS OURS.” This historic medal is deep chocolate-brown showing only a few trivial contact marks. Eccleston himself was a Quaker “Eccentric” of great wealth who backed both American Independence and Native American Indian rights.

We repeat the description given by George Fuld and Russell Rulau in their excellent version of the “Medallic Portraits of Washington” which reads: “A superb medal in every respect. Published by Daniel Eccleston of Lancaster, England. Dies cut by Thomas Webb, a British engraver who worked 1804-1827. This piece apparently was issued with a twist of subtle satire. The obverse of the medal depicts Washington in a heavy suit of armor - ‘a singular conceit,’ notes Baker. The reverse has an Indian standing head downcast, with an arrow in his right hand and leaning on a bow. Then, surrounding the Indian at center are the words “THE LAND WAS OURS.” The medal appears to be more of a commentary on the expropriation by colonists of Indian lands than a tribute to Washington. Yet the phrase ‘Innumerable millions yet unborn’ is truly laudatory of the nation’s first president and commander-in-chief during the Revolutionary War.”