204

c. 1820-1840 Gold Gilt US Capitol Building Pinback WASHINGTON’S TOWN Legend

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,400.00 USD
c. 1820-1840 Gold Gilt US Capitol Building Pinback WASHINGTON’S TOWN Legend
Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
c. 1820-1840 Hand-Engraved Early United States Capitol Building Decorative Gold Gilt Pinback Badge Decoration
c. 1820-1840, Superb Gold Gilt Pinback Badge Decoration of the United States Capitol Building, “WASHINGTON’S TOWN” Legend, measuring 48mm or about 1.75” round, Very Choice Brilliant Near Mint.
Historic and patriotic original Hand-Engraved round Gold Gilt Decorative Pinback displaying a large central relief of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.. Below the image of the Capitol is a banner reading, “WASHINGTON’S TOWN”. On the backside inner portion of this Pin are two struck identification numbers: 6018 and 35. Its original Pin is completely intact and in excellent condition hinged on the plain back side. This beautiful Pinback Badge Decoration comes housed within a period velveteen box, being maker marked as “Strawbridge & Clothier, Philadelphia” printed on white silk. An gorgeous, highly decorative Pinback Badge decoration with a superb engraving of the early United States Capitol Building.
Not long after the completion of both wings, the Capitol was partially burned by the British on August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812. George Bomford and Joseph Gardner Swift, both military engineers, were called upon to help rebuild the Capitol. Reconstruction began in 1815 and included redesigned chambers for both Senate and House wings (now sides), which were completed by 1819. During the reconstruction, Congress met in the Old Brick Capitol, a temporary structure financed by local investors. Construction continued through to 1826, with the addition of the center section with front steps and columned portico and an interior Rotunda, rising above the first low dome of the Capitol. Latrobe is principally connected with the original construction and many innovative interior features; his successor, Bulfinch, also played a major role, such as the design of the first low dome covered in copper.

The House and Senate Wings[edit]

Daguerreotype of east side of the Capitol in 1846, by John Plumbe shows the Capitol Building much as seen in this Pinback’s image design.

By 1850, it became clear that the Capitol could not accommodate the growing number of legislators arriving from newly admitted states. A new design competition was held, and President Millard Fillmore appointed Philadelphia architect Thomas U. Walter to carry out the expansion. Two new wings were added – a new chamber for the House of Representatives on the south side, and a new chamber for the Senate on the north.