(1862) Silver Medal J-PR-26, George Washington

Coin Details

Auction Record

$351 MS60 06-06-2016 Bonham's

Description

This silver medal of George Washington is cataloged as Julian PR-26, representing the precious metal version of this Civil War-era presidential medal design. Silver strikings of Julian-numbered Washington medals from the 1860s are consistently scarcer than their bronzed copper counterparts, as the higher material cost and more specialized market limited production quantities. The obverse carries a portrait of Washington reflecting the Mint's interpretation of the first president's appearance, while the reverse features design elements specific to the PR-26 catalog entry. Washington medals from this period draw upon a rich artistic tradition stretching back to the earliest years of the Republic, when French medalist Pierre Simon Duvivier created the first official Washington portrait medal. The 1862 date places this silver striking during a pivotal year of the Civil War, when the Union's fortunes hung in the balance and the imagery of the founding generation took on heightened symbolic importance. Silver medals produced during the war years are particularly prized by collectors who appreciate both the numismatic and historical dimensions of these pieces. Washington's dominance in American medallic art is unmatched — the Baker catalog documents hundreds of distinct varieties, and Washington medals remain one of the most active collecting specialties in American numismatics. The Julian PR-26 in silver represents a premium entry in this vast field, combining precious metal composition with institutional Mint production.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver strikings of Civil War-era Washington medals were produced in small quantities. Well-preserved examples are sought by advanced collectors of both Washingtonia and Julian-cataloged medals.

Cross References

Julian PR-26 (Silver); Baker catalog cross-reference