1848 Silver Medal GW-178, National Monument

Coin Details

Auction Record

$16,800 MS64 04-13-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1848 medal GW-178 in silver commemorates the National Monument to George Washington, specifically the Washington Monument in the nation's capital whose construction began on July 4, 1848. The cornerstone was laid with Masonic ceremonies echoing Washington's own laying of the Capitol cornerstone in 1793, and the event generated considerable public enthusiasm and commemorative production. The Washington National Monument Society had been working since 1833 to raise funds for the monument, which was designed by architect Robert Mills as a 555-foot marble obelisk. The 1848 groundbreaking marked the transition from planning to construction, though the monument would not be completed until 1884 due to interruptions caused by political controversy, the Civil War, and funding difficulties. Medal GW-178 captures the optimism of the initial construction phase. The silver composition elevates this piece above the more common bronze and white metal monument commemoratives, indicating it was produced as a premium item for Monument Society donors or other distinguished recipients. Silver Washington Monument medals from the 1848 groundbreaking period are scarce, as the precious metal limited production quantities. This piece represents both a commemoration of the monument and a document of the mid-nineteenth-century movement to honor Washington with a permanent national memorial.

Rarity Notes

Silver composition. 1848 Washington Monument medals in silver are scarce. The silver striking indicates limited production for donors or presentation purposes.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-178; PCGS #897274; Washington National Monument