(1862) Brass Medal GW-492, 2nd Obv Headquarters, No. 5 Valley Forge

Coin Details

Auction Record

$408 MS63 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This brass medal cataloged as GW-492, struck from the second obverse die, depicts Washington's headquarters "No. 5 Valley Forge," produced circa 1862. Valley Forge needs little introduction — the winter encampment of 1777-1778 where the Continental Army endured terrible suffering but emerged as a professional fighting force under Baron von Steuben's training. Washington's stone headquarters building at Valley Forge, the Isaac Potts House, became one of the most visited historic sites in America. The numbering of Valley Forge as headquarters No. 5 in this series places it within the broader chronological sequence of Washington's command posts, contextualizing the famous winter camp within the larger pattern of the commander-in-chief's wartime movements. The Valley Forge medal was the most popular piece in the headquarters series, as the site's legendary status ensured strong collector demand. The brass composition and second-obverse die are consistent with the rest of this numbered series.

Rarity Notes

GW-492, brass, 2nd Obverse. Headquarters No. 5, Valley Forge. Most popular in the headquarters series.

Cross References

PCGS #883402; GW-492; Headquarters No. 5 Valley Forge, brass, 2nd Obv