1887 Bronze Medal GW-1041, Independence Hall Small

Coin Details

Auction Record

$552 MS66 10-30-2018 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1887 medal GW-1041 in bronze is a small-format piece featuring Independence Hall, the building where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and adopted. Independence Hall was the most potent architectural symbol of the founding era, and its image appeared on numerous medals throughout the nineteenth century. The "Small" designation distinguishes this from a larger version of the same design. Bronze composition indicates standard commemorative production. Independence Hall medals from the Constitution Centennial complement the many Washington-portrait pieces from the same celebration. The building served as both the literal and symbolic setting for the constitutional founding, making it an appropriate subject for the 1887 centennial. Washington medals provide a unique window into American material culture, documenting how successive generations have interpreted and presented the legacy of the nation's first president through the intimate medium of medallic art.

Rarity Notes

Bronze, small format. Independence Hall Constitution Centennial medal.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-1041; PCGS #681626; Independence Hall, small