(1877) Silver Medal GW-945, 1st Obv Fortitude, Prudence, Justice

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,020 MS65 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver medal cataloged as GW-945, struck from the first obverse die, bears the virtues "Fortitude, Prudence, Justice," produced circa 1877. The three cardinal virtues named on this medal — fortitude, prudence, and justice — are deeply rooted in both classical philosophy and Masonic tradition, and all three were commonly attributed to George Washington by his contemporaries and biographers. Washington's reputation for prudent leadership, fortitude under adversity, and commitment to justice formed the foundation of his posthumous image as the ideal republican citizen-soldier. The silver composition marks this as a premium piece for serious collectors, appropriate to the gravitas of its philosophical subject matter. The first obverse die designation indicates this is the earliest die state, potentially showing sharper detail than later strikings from the same die. The combination of Washington's portrait with named virtues transforms this medal from a simple commemorative into a moral statement about the qualities that defined America's founding leader.

Rarity Notes

GW-945, silver, 1st Obverse. Fortitude-Prudence-Justice virtues. Silver composition. Very scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #826484; GW-945; Fortitude Prudence Justice, silver, 1st Obv