(1889) Bronze Medal GW-1104, Holed Equestrian-Centennial Inaguration

Coin Details

Auction Record

$65 SP62 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

The Musante-Baker GW-1104 medal in bronze with a hole is a variant of the equestrian inauguration centennial medal from 1889. This piece shares the identical obverse and reverse designs of the standard GW-1104 — Washington on horseback on the obverse and centennial inscriptions on the reverse — but was pierced with a hole at the top to allow suspension from a ribbon or chain, converting the medal into a wearable badge or pendant. Holed medals from the centennial celebrations were commonly worn as badges during the three-day festival in New York City, April 29 through May 1, 1889. Participants in the parades, banquets, and receptions often displayed their commemorative pieces as personal tokens of attendance. The practice of holing medals for suspension was standard in nineteenth-century American medallic arts and does not necessarily indicate damage — many pieces were factory-holed before distribution specifically for this purpose. The distinction between a medal that was holed at the time of manufacture for intended wear and one that was holed later by an owner is sometimes difficult to determine. In either case, the holed variant is cataloged separately in the Musante-Baker reference as it represents a distinct collectible form of the GW-1104 design.

Rarity Notes

Bronze holed variant of GW-1104. Holed pieces are generally less valued by collectors than unholed examples, though factory-holed specimens intended as badges have their own following among Washingtoniana specialists.

Cross References

Musante-Baker GW-1104; PCGS #883368