(1862) Silver Medal J-PR-29, Washington-Jackson

Coin Details

Auction Record

$480 MS63DMPL 04-01-2019 Kagin's

Description

This silver medal cataloged as Julian PR-29 features a remarkable dual-president design pairing George Washington and Andrew Jackson — the first and seventh presidents whose political philosophies and leadership styles defined the two major traditions of early American governance. The medal was produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 1862 during the Civil War, when invocations of past presidential greatness carried profound symbolic weight. The design pairs these two iconic figures in a medallic composition that connects Washington's founding-era leadership with Jackson's populist democratic expansion. Washington established the precedents and institutions of the presidency, while Jackson transformed the office into a vehicle for popular democratic will. Together they represent the evolution of American executive power from its patrician origins to its democratic maturation. Dual-president medals are unusual entries in the Julian catalog, standing apart from the standard individual presidential portrait format. The Washington-Jackson pairing reflects both the historical significance of these two figures and the commercial appeal of combining the two most popular presidential subjects in American medallic art. The silver composition marks this as a premium issue intended for collectors and presentation purposes. The Baker catalog, which comprehensively documents Washington-related medals, lists this piece as Baker-223, providing an additional reference framework for collectors of Washingtonia. The dual-president format makes this medal distinctive within both the Julian PR series and the broader field of American commemorative medals.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver examples of the Washington-Jackson medal are scarce, with limited production quantities. The unusual dual-president format adds to collector interest and desirability.

Cross References

Julian PR-29; Baker-223; PCGS #524891