1850 Medal Baker-174H, Nude Bust

Coin Details

Description

The 1850 medal Baker-174H features a "Nude Bust" portrait of George Washington, an artistic interpretation that depicts Washington's head and shoulders without the military uniform, civilian coat, or classical drapery that typically adorned his medallic portraits. The nude bust format was a convention drawn from ancient Roman and Greek portrait sculpture, where the subject was often depicted without clothing to emphasize timeless heroic qualities rather than contemporary fashion. The nude bust tradition in Washington portraiture reflected the founding generation's conscious emulation of classical antiquity. Just as Roman senators and emperors were depicted in marble busts that stripped away temporal clothing to reveal idealized form, Washington's nude bust portraits sought to elevate him beyond the specific circumstances of the eighteenth century into a universal symbol of republican virtue. This artistic choice was particularly common in medallic art, where the small format and relief sculpture medium naturally evoked classical numismatic traditions. Baker-174H is one of several variants in the Baker-174 series, each distinguished by composition, size, or die characteristics. The "H" suffix indicates a specific variant within this group. The 1850 date places the medal in the antebellum period when American art was increasingly sophisticated in its engagement with classical traditions, and Washington portraiture had become a well-established genre with recognized conventions and aesthetic standards.

Rarity Notes

Baker-174H variant. Nude bust Washington portraits are a distinctive subcategory within Washingtoniana. Rarity depends on the specific variant and composition.

Cross References

Baker-174H; PCGS #523335