(1859) Silver Medal GW-313, Brown's Statue Non Nobis Solum

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal, cataloged as GW-313, commemorates Brown's statue of Washington with the inscription "Non Nobis Solum" (Not for Ourselves Alone), produced circa 1859. Henry Kirke Brown's equestrian statue of Washington, unveiled in Union Square, New York City on July 4, 1856, was the first major public sculpture of Washington in New York and became an iconic landmark. The statue depicts Washington on horseback in his Continental Army uniform, and it remains standing in Union Square today. The Latin motto "Non Nobis Solum," derived from Cicero's "De Officiis," expresses the ideal of selfless public service that Washington embodied. This silver medal commemorates the statue's creation and implicitly celebrates the civic values it represents. Silver examples of statue commemoration medals are scarce, as most were produced in more affordable base metals for wider distribution. The GW-313 catalog number places this within the group of Brown's statue medals that were produced in various metals and die combinations.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver examples of the Brown statue Non Nobis Solum medal are seldom encountered. The piece is well-documented but infrequently available.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-313; PCGS #929231