(1863) PB Medal Baker-86, Defender of Liberty

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,200 AU58 08-23-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This lead medal cataloged as Baker-86 bears the title "Defender of Liberty," produced circa 1863 during the Civil War. The lead composition — denoted by "PB" (plumbum) in numismatic notation — indicates either a trial striking, a proof of the die, or an inexpensive version intended for the widest possible distribution. Baker-86 in W.S. Baker's "Medallic Portraits of Washington" catalog identifies this as a piece with established provenance in Washington medal scholarship. The "Defender of Liberty" title was frequently applied to Washington on Civil War-era medals, reframing the first president as a champion of freedom whose legacy demanded the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery. Lead medals could be produced quickly and cheaply, making them effective instruments of wartime propaganda. Despite the base composition, lead pieces are often found in excellent condition because the soft metal reproduces die details with exceptional clarity, making even inexpensive strikings attractive display pieces.

Rarity Notes

Baker-86, lead. Defender of Liberty. Lead composition is unusual. Surviving examples may be rare due to fragile material.

Cross References

PCGS #948249; Baker-86; Defender of Liberty, lead