1889 Medal Washington Inaugural Centennial Cast Bronze Prototype

Coin Details

Auction Record

$16,800 MS62 11-09-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This cast bronze prototype medal from 1889 is a Washington Inaugural Centennial piece representing an experimental or preliminary production. Cast bronze prototypes are among the rarest artifacts in political and commemorative numismatics, as they represent the manufacturing process rather than the finished product. Cast medals — produced by pouring molten metal into a mold rather than striking a design between dies — have a different texture and finish from struck medals, typically showing less sharp detail but sometimes displaying artistic qualities that are lost in the mass-production striking process. This prototype was created as a pattern for the die-sinker's approval before the final dies were cut, or as a limited-production alternative to struck medals. The bronze composition provides greater durability than the white metal used for most centennial medals. As a prototype, this piece offers insight into the production process behind the elaborate centennial commemorative program and is of exceptional interest to advanced collectors who study the manufacturing techniques of nineteenth-century medallic art.

Rarity Notes

Cast bronze prototype from 1889. Washington Inaugural Centennial. Prototypes are extremely rare, representing the manufacturing process. Museum-quality piece.

Cross References

PCGS #911634; Washington Inaugural Centennial 1889; cast bronze prototype