1805 AE Medal GW-88, Eccleston, Gilt MS(PCGS#659556)

November 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4318

等级

SP62

价格

49,178

详细说明

Magnificent Fire Gilt Eccleston Medal With Secret Marks 1805 Eccleston Medal. Musante GW-88, Baker-85A. Copper, Fire Gilt. Plain edge. MS-62 (PCGS). 76.1 mm. 1951.7 grains. Bold light, silvery gold gilding is nearly complete across the surfaces with just a trace of loss on the higher areas of the design and in a couple of small rim areas. This would perhaps be better described as thinning than loss, as the appearance upon first inspection is more like slight toning. Regardless, the distinctive surface is essentially unbroken otherwise and the eye appeal is superb. The fields are gently prooflike and bear the usual light hairlines. There is no other evidence of mishandling. Slight planchet porosity is visible through the central reverse, as usual. This is the result of the combination of a porous cast planchet and the extremely high relief of the obverse portrait that did not allow for complete smoothing of this area by the dies during the striking process. A series of deeper planchet pits is noted on the edge at 12:00, but are as made and do not affect the eye appeal. The fire gilt Eccleston medals combine two very rare features for this series. The most obvious is the distinctive and very rare finish. Just eight such examples are known to us, and at least two of those are in institutional collections, including Thomas Jefferson’s own medal still in the care of Monticello. The other feature consists of three small punch marks deliberately set into the medal by either Daniel Eccleston or Thomas Webb, the die-sinker. All of the eight known fire-gilt specimens bear these marks, and we are aware of four or five different bronze pieces with them. The fact that Jefferson’s own medal has them clarifies that the marks were punched at the source, though we do not know their purpose. They were first published in our November 2019 sale of the William Spohn Baker Collection, where we sold one of the bronzes. Provenance: From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. PCGS# 659556.