1832 AE Medal GW-135, Cordwainer's, BN MS(PCGS#910583)

Winter 2022 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

2142

等级

XF45BN

价格

93,223

详细说明

The Unique Cordwainer's Medal By Godfrey Conradt For the 1832 Philadelphia Civic Procession Second Auction Offering in More than a Century Circa 1832 Cordwainer’s Medal by Godfrey Conradt. Musante GW-135, Baker-162. White metal. EF-45 (PCGS). 34.4 mm. 293.4 grains. Pierced for suspension at 12 o'clock. A great rarity, and one that can see a generation or more pass between changes in ownership. This is among the small group of medals struck in celebration of Washington's birth, and it is among the greatest rarities of the Washington medals of the era. The surfaces are light pewter gray, with outlines of silvery brilliance around the devices and behind the letters of the legends. Though handled a bit, and showing plenty of mostly shallow, scattered marks, the overall appearance is of a fairly clean and little impaired piece. Only a couple of small rim anomalies are noticed quickly, but none is severe. Struck on a substantial flan of good thickness and metal quality, the composition fortunately having withstood the effects of time and the elements, remaining free of pesting, in contrast with other white metal pieces of this era that are frequently found heavily oxidized. Glossy hard metal throughout. Though a somewhat crude production, it is rather well made overall. With the obverse in high relief and the reverse relatively flat in comparison, it is notable that all the details are fairly well struck up and the piece is rather handsome. Washington's name is spelled WASINGTON on the obverse, a Germanic spelling, according to Neil Musante, who pointed this detail out in discussing the same spelling on one of the Series Numismatica medals (GW-100) struck in Munich in the 1840s. Under the bust, small lettering reads "CONRADT 170 N. Fourth St." On the reverse, THE / FATHER / OF HIS / COUNTRY / FEBR 22d / 1832 appears inside a wreath, with a very tiny italic "Phila" below, outside the wreath. Godfrey Conradt was a relative newcomer to Philadelphia when this piece was struck in honor of the first President's centennial of birth, but he might well have been old enough to hear the tales of the general who led colonists to military victory over one of the world's greatest military powers. His work, therefore, might have reflected reverence in addition to a simple commission, though he was not a native-born American. Conradt is recorded as having arrived in the United States in 1830, settling in Philadelphia. In the 1830 United States Census he is listed as head of household, in his 30s, with a wife of similar age and two children under five years old. His place of business, as a caster, was given as 129 N. 4th Street, above Wood Street. According to William Spohn Baker, his entry in the 1831 Philadelphia City Directory placed him at 170 N. 4th Street, in business as an engraver, aligning with his signature on this medal. The earliest mention of Conradt's medallic efforts we are aware of appeared in 1859, in Dr. Montroville W. Dickeson's The American Numismatical Manual. Therein, on pages 142-143, is the unmistakable description of a Conradt medal, along with generally positive commentary on Conradt and his talents. However, this entry does not include an obverse legend, so the medal being discussed is clearly GW-135-T1, without the legend. The same medal was offered in Ebenezer Locke Mason's sale of the remnants of the Joseph J. Mickley Collection in 1878. Mason described it as "…very good condition, struck in white metal, extremely rare, and possibly unique." It realized $16. As in Dickeson, there was no obverse legend mentioned, nor was there comment on a suspension piercing. The Chapmans later identified the buyer as William Sumner Appleton, whose collection remains at the Massachusetts Historical Society. As far as we are aware, that medal without the obverse legend is unique. William Spohn Baker commented about the same medal in 1885, "The only impression of this piece, which has come to the knowledge of the writer, was formerly owned by the late Joseph J. Mickley, and was disposed of at the sale of his effects, Philadelphia, November 5, 1878." He did not know the owner at the time, though it would have been Appleton. The presently offered piece first appeared in the May 1893 Nicholas Petry sale conducted by the Chapmans, though it was clarified to be an addition to the sale and not Petry's property. It was the first offering to specify an obverse legend, and the medal sold to Charles D. Perry for $40. Unfortunately we have not been able to locate this in the sale of Perry's holdings, so it must have been retained for a time or sold privately. In that sale, a remarkable history was given pertaining to this specimen: "Feb. 22, 1832, Mr. William L. Clayton, then a boy of six years of age, was standing at his father's door, Fifth street below Buttonwood street, Philadelphia, watching the procession in honor of Washington's Birthday pass by; when the 'old coining press' came along they were striking these medals and throwing them out to the populace, the present piece was thrown to him and he caught it. His father made a small hole in it, so he could wear it, and told him to preserve it as a memento of the occasion, and it has remained in his possession to the present time, highly prized." The Chapmans made an interesting observation, that "it is strange that it should be one of the only two known specimens, and until this appeared the Mickley one was considered unique." Two pieces of circumstantial evidence point to a bit of confusion in this story. We know of at least two issues that were struck during the parade and tossed to spectators. The Civic Procession medals, and the tinsmith's medals. In the first case, the medals are of good size and thickness, but are not particularly well made. When they appear for sale, which is not infrequently as they are fairly plentiful, they tend to be rough, damaged and heavily pested. This seems appropriate for such a history of distribution. The case of the tinsmith's medal is different. Those are also heavily pested when seen, which is rarely. They were on very thin flans, and most were likely soon ruined, lost or discarded as cheap mementos, which they have every appearance of being. In the case of the Conradt medal, what is known just does not match up to a large number being struck and distributed in this manner. Most likely, the medal caught by Clayton as a youngster was one of the other two types and the span of years confused the matter. Nonetheless, there is no reason to doubt that he in fact owned this one, and likely for decades, perhaps even from close to the time of its production. Rulau and Fuld, in their 1999 revision of Medallic Portraits, did not identify varieties with and without an obverse legend, and listed three known specimens, MHS, Norweb and Parsons. This was clearly in error, as the Norweb and Parsons medals are one in the same, and the MHS medal is a different variety. This was carried over to Neil Musante's reference, crediting Rulau and Fuld. In fact, it would seem that only one of this variant has ever come to light. Wayte Raymond mentioned it in his 1941 monograph on page 16, but did not give it a number beyond Baker's, identifying it as a "private striking used for a special occasion, probably not over 2 or 3 made." The evidence suggests Raymond was following the unclear historical record, assuming that this and the MHS piece were of the same variety. Considering the workmanship and the aforementioned quality of the flan, it is simply not plausible that this medal was mass-produced in the parade float scenario and that only one has survived. This said, Baker did assign it a purpose. Baker wrote in his introduction to the Birth, Death and Centennial, 1832chapter that Conradt prepared this medal for the cordwainers, who wore them in the Philadelphia Civic Procession. Of the Cordwainer's presence in this procession, the United States Gazetteof Philadelphia had this to report: "CORDWAINERS. "Chief Marshal, Daniel Green. "Aids, Israel Robinson, John Johnson, Mounted, with Batons, followed by a splendid banner presented by the cordwainers of New York for the occasion, after which, an elegant banner, portrait of Washington. Inscription, 'The Father of his Country' "A Large Tri-Coloured Flag, "in the rear a splendid blue silk banner, a large eagle with armorial bearings, thirty Marshals with blue wands, wearing large blue silk scarfs crossing from the left shoulder to right hip. On the left breast, a star with silver centre; on the right breast, white satin Washington badge; silver badges suspended from the neck by blue ribbon. White kid aprons with blue trimming, bearing the arms of the craft; green and gold inscription, 'Union of Cordwainers;' white kid gloves. About four hundred and thirty men wearing medals, badges, aprons and gloves, same as the Marshals." With just one example known, there is simply no way that any significant number of the "about four hundred and thirty men" marching in this section wore badges like this one. What is much more likely is that this one was produced for the chief Marshal of the section, Daniel Green. Regardless, the noted inscription on the cordwainers' banner matches the reverse of this medal. This detail, in concert with the mention of medals being worn and Baker's own attribution of this piece to the cordwainers results in a reasonably secure assignment of purpose and a much more complete picture of the historic background of this intriguing medal. Additional information pertaining to this lot: 1832 Introduction 1832 marked the Centennial Anniversary of the birth of George Washington, and with his memory still very much alive more than three decades after his passing, celebrations were taken seriously. In Philadelphia, a massive Civic Procession was planned and executed. Even the newspapers in the city did not publish on February 23rd, as they were asked to not work on the day of the celebration, in honor of Washington-the day they would have otherwise prepared the 23rd's editions. The February 24, 1832, edition of Philadelphia's The United States Gazetteoffered these observations and commentaries on the events of the day, among others: "The hundredth birth day of Washington was celebrated on Wednesday throughout the United States, with pomp and circumstances suited to the character and claims of our country's father, according to the feelings and view of citizens. Those who conscientiously avoid public parades, felt undoubtedly grateful for the benefits received, no less sensible of the claims for deep and lasting respect, which the services of Washington had upon them. "Philadelphia, on the occasion, manifested unusual display to give emphatic expression to feelings of love for the character, and gratitude for the services, of Washington. "For several days previous to the twenty second, the note of preparation was heard in every part of the city. The daily papers were crowded with notices of meetings of different trades, professions, and companies, for the purpose of considering the best mode of celebrating the occasion; committees of arrangement were formed, and each vied with the rest in a laudable and friendly emulation, to testify his respect for the great character whose birth day they were about to celebrate. Meanwhile, artists and artisans of every description were busy in the preparation of various insignia for the occasion…" "…About 9 o'clock A.M. the different trades, fire companies, and military bands, were seen organizing in their respective places of rendezvous-and the busy movement of citizens with the badges of the day, and the different insignia of their craft and their official rank, was highly interesting and enlivening, while cheerful activity beamed in every face, and showed itself in the bouyancy [sic] of every step…" "…The streets through which the procession passed, were crowded with people, anxiously gazing at the most imposing spectacle that has ever been exhibited in Philadelphia." It was estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 people participated in the procession which was between four and five miles in length and lasted just several hours (accounts vary). The few medals that follow, along with the unique GW-91 offered earlier in this sale, are artifacts that relate directly to this occasion, and are among the few such medals that can be assigned a very specific time, place and purpose. Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Philadelphian William F. Clayton, perhaps in the 1830s; the Clayton family until 1893; S.H. and Henry Chapman's sale of the Nicholas Petry Collection, May 1893, Lot 770; Isaac F. Wood; S.H. and H. Chapman's sale of the Isaac F. Wood Collection, July 1894, lot 308; Henry Chapman's sale of the George M. Parsons Collection, June 1914, lot 689; purchased by Mrs. Norweb in the 1950s, allegedly "ex-England" though particulars are not known; our (Stack's) sale of the Norweb Collection, November 2006, lot 2121. Click hereto see Coins in Motion.[“Coins]