(1800) Medal Funeral Penny Tin Breen-1281

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,410 MS63 01-01-2013 Stack's Bowers

Description

A tin funeral penny cataloged as Breen-1281, produced circa 1800 to commemorate the death of George Washington on December 14, 1799. Washington's passing triggered an unprecedented outpouring of national mourning, and numerous medals, tokens, and memorial pieces were produced to satisfy public demand for tangible remembrances of the first president. Funeral pennies were small, affordable commemorative pieces intended for wide distribution among mourners and the general public, functioning as both keepsakes and expressions of collective grief. The tin composition made these pieces inexpensive to produce in large quantities. The obverse typically features a portrait of Washington, while the reverse carries funerary symbolism such as urns, weeping willows, or memorial inscriptions recording the date of death. Breen-1281 designates this specific variety in Walter Breen's comprehensive catalog of early American numismatic items. These funeral pennies are among the most historically evocative pieces in all of Washingtonia, directly connecting to the national mourning period of 1799-1800. Tin, penny size (approximately 28-30mm).

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Tin funeral pennies are fragile and many have been lost to corrosion. Surviving examples in decent condition are sought after by Washingtonia collectors.

Cross References

Breen-1281; Baker catalog (related); Musante GW-70 series; Fuld funeral series