(1876) Copper Medal GW-881, Sheldon Family Arms

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,440 MS64BN 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper medal cataloged as GW-881 features the Sheldon Family Arms alongside Washington's portrait, produced circa 1876. The Sheldon family connection reflects a private commission by a member of the Sheldon family who wished to combine their family heraldry with a Washington centennial commemorative. Private commissions of Washington medals for individual families, organizations, or occasions represent a specialized subset of the GW series that documents the personal relationships Americans formed with Washington's image and legacy. The copper composition was appropriate for a limited private commission, providing quality presentation at reasonable cost. The inclusion of family arms on a Washington medal reflects the nineteenth-century American interest in genealogy and the desire of established families to connect their lineage to the founding generation. The GW-881 catalog number documents this unusual private piece within the broader Washington medal series.

Rarity Notes

GW-881, copper. Sheldon Family Arms. Private commission. Very limited original production. Scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #788450; GW-881; Sheldon Family Arms, copper