(1832) Medal Stuart Portrait, GW-84 White Metal

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,000 MS63 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This white metal medal, cataloged as GW-84, features a portrait of George Washington based on the famous Gilbert Stuart painting, produced circa 1832. The Stuart portrait, particularly the so-called Athenaeum portrait of 1796, became the most widely reproduced image of Washington in American culture and served as the basis for numerous medallic portraits throughout the nineteenth century. This medal translates Stuart's distinctive three-quarter view of Washington's face into the medallic format, with the white metal composition providing a bright, silvery appearance at modest cost. White metal, an alloy primarily composed of tin with small amounts of antimony or copper, was widely used for commemorative medals during the 1830s-1860s, offering an affordable alternative to silver while retaining good detail reproduction. The circa 1832 date places this medal in the context of the Washington Birth Centennial celebrations, when demand for Washington-themed commemorative pieces reached its first major peak. The GW-84 designation in the Musante-Baker catalog identifies this as a recognized variety within the extensive canon of Stuart-portrait Washington medals.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. White metal medals from the 1830s are uncommon due to the fragility of the alloy. Specimens in good condition with clear portrait details are especially difficult to find.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-84; PCGS #764437