(1858) White Metal Medal GW-228, 2nd Obv Sprite & Sea Serpent Mule

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 MS64 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This white metal medal, cataloged as GW-228, features a second obverse die paired with the "Sprite and Sea Serpent" reverse, produced circa 1858. White metal is the third composition in which the GW-228 second-obverse Sprite and Sea Serpent mule was produced, joining brass and copper versions. The white metal composition provides a bright, silvery appearance and was the most affordable of the three metals used. White metal examples tend to show somewhat softer details than copper or brass counterparts due to the alloy's lower hardness, but well-struck specimens can display excellent sharpness. The Sprite and Sea Serpent series as a whole represents the playful side of antebellum medal-making, where commercial considerations and collector interest in unusual varieties drove die-sinkers to create combinations that mixed the solemn with the fantastical. White metal versions were produced in the smallest quantities of the three compositions, as the alloy's fragility limited both production ease and long-term survival.

Rarity Notes

Rare. White metal examples are the least commonly encountered of the three GW-228 compositions. Survival is further reduced by the fragility of white metal.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-228; PCGS #877764