(1800) AR Medal Washington Funeral, Urn MS61 认证号45000000, PCGS号928

Ron Guth

After George Washington died in December 1799, America entered into a nationwide period of mourning.  The whole country paid their respects in letters, songs, and poems.  In Boston, funeral processions took place on February 11 and February 22, 1800.  Special funeral medals were struck for both occasions: those with a skull and crossbones on the reverse were made for the earlier procession; those with an urn on the reverse were made for the Feburay 22 procession.  Virtually all examples were holed at the top so that attendees could display their medals solemnly and proudly around their necks.

Large numbers of the "Urn" medals were made in silver; only a small handful were made in gold.  Several die varieties comprise the silver issues; these were catalogued by the late Russell Rulau and George Fuld in the Medallic Portraits of Washington, 2nd edition.

Because Urn medals were meant to be worn and used, fully Uncirculated examples are very scarce.