(1889) Brass Medal GW-1139, Plated White Metal Washington Centennial, Shell

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 MS63 11-09-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

The Musante-Baker GW-1139 medal is a brass-plated white metal shell piece commemorating the Washington centennial of 1889. Shell medals are a distinctive form of nineteenth-century metallic art in which thin stampings are produced from sheet metal and then joined together, creating a hollow piece that resembles a solid medal but weighs considerably less. The brass plating over white metal gives this piece a golden appearance while keeping production costs minimal. This centennial shell piece was one of many inexpensive souvenirs produced for the massive celebrations marking the hundredth anniversary of Washington's inauguration. Shell medals were often sold by street vendors during parades and public gatherings, and their low cost made them accessible to virtually every attendee. The Washington Centennial celebrations of April-May 1889 generated an enormous variety of medallic souvenirs, from elaborate silver presentation pieces to simple shell badges like GW-1139. Shell medals are inherently fragile and many have not survived in good condition, as the thin metal is susceptible to denting, separation of the joined halves, and loss of plating. Surviving examples in good condition are valued by specialists in Washingtoniana for their documentary value as artifacts of the centennial celebrations, even though they were among the cheapest items produced.

Rarity Notes

Shell medal construction makes surviving examples in good condition uncommon. Brass-plated white metal shells were produced inexpensively for mass distribution. Fragile construction means many have been lost or damaged.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-1139; PCGS #909486