(1870) Bronze Medal J-PR-32c, Washington-Grant

Coin Details

Auction Record

$109 SP62 12-31-2022 eBay

Description

This bronze medal cataloged as Julian PR-32c represents the base metal version of the Washington-Grant dual-president design. The "c" suffix in the Julian number identifies the bronze composition, distinguishing it from the silver (PR-32) and any other metal variants in the catalog. Bronze versions were produced in larger quantities than silver strikings, making the dual-president design accessible to a broader collecting audience. The medal continues the tradition of pairing George Washington with the sitting president, connecting the founding of the republic with its current leadership. Grant's portrait on this medal reflects his early presidential years, when his Civil War fame translated into enormous public goodwill and an overwhelming electoral mandate. The pairing with Washington reinforced the legitimacy of Grant's administration during the challenging Reconstruction era. Grant's presidency (1869-1877) was marked by ambitious efforts to protect the civil rights of formerly enslaved people through enforcement of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, the suppression of the Ku Klux Klan, and the advancement of Native American policy reforms. While his administration was also plagued by corruption scandals, Grant's personal integrity and dedication to racial equality have led to significant upward revision of his historical reputation in recent decades. The bronze composition provides the warm, reddish-brown appearance characteristic of Mint medals from this period. Bronze examples of dual-president medals offer collectors an affordable entry point to this distinctive sub-series of American presidential medallic art.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce. Bronze versions were produced in larger quantities than silver but remain less common than standard single-president medals. Regular appearances at auction and on the secondary market.

Cross References

Julian PR-32c (Bronze); Julian PR-32 (Silver); PCGS #827435