1858 Silver Medal GW-239, Lancaster County Agricultural & Mech. Society

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,320 SP61 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1858 medal GW-239 in silver was issued by the Lancaster County Agricultural and Mechanical Society, a Pennsylvania organization that promoted agricultural improvement and mechanical innovation in the fertile farming region of Lancaster County. The medal features George Washington's portrait, reflecting his status as America's most famous farmer and the patron saint of agricultural improvement. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States, and its agricultural society was among the most active in the country. Agricultural societies sponsored county fairs, exhibitions, and competitions that showcased local farming products and mechanical inventions, and they frequently awarded medals to prize-winning exhibitors. Washington's portrait on an agricultural society medal was a natural choice, given his lifelong commitment to scientific farming at Mount Vernon and his role as the archetypal American farmer-statesman. The silver composition indicates this was an award medal rather than a mass-produced commemorative — silver medals were typically reserved for first-place winners or special recognition at agricultural fairs. The 1858 date places this piece in the last years before the Civil War, when agricultural societies were flourishing across the northern states and the American agricultural system was undergoing rapid mechanization.

Rarity Notes

Silver agricultural society award medal. Award medals were produced in small quantities for specific recipients. Lancaster County agricultural medals are documented in specialized Pennsylvania numismatic references.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-239; PCGS #826358; Lancaster County Agricultural & Mechanical Society