1889 Medal Douglas-52 Copper Inauguration Centennial

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,020 MS66BN 08-31-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1889 copper medal, cataloged as Douglas-52, commemorates the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789. The inauguration took place at Federal Hall in New York City, then the national capital, where Washington took the oath of office on the building's balcony before a crowd of citizens. The centennial celebration in 1889 was a major national event, with extensive ceremonies in New York retracing Washington's journey from Mount Vernon to the inauguration site. Douglas-52 references the standard catalog of inauguration medals. The copper composition was one of several metallic variants produced, with the Douglas catalog tracking each variant separately. Inauguration centennial medals are collected both within the broader Washington medal series and as commemoratives of the founding presidency that established the precedents followed by every subsequent administration.

Rarity Notes

Douglas-52, copper composition. 1889 Inauguration Centennial. Multiple metal variants exist (see Douglas-52A for white metal). Limited production.

Cross References

PCGS #528682; Douglas-52; Washington Inauguration Centennial Medal, Copper; April 30, 1789