(1914) Bronze Medal Baker-U-345, 1914 General Society Meeting

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS64 11-09-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This bronze medal, cataloged as Baker-U-345, was produced for the 1914 General Society meeting. The "U" prefix in Baker's catalog system typically designates unlisted or later-cataloged varieties added as supplements to the original 1885 reference. This medal connects George Washington to the tradition of hereditary patriotic societies, many of which trace their origins to the Revolutionary War era and use Washington's image and legacy as central elements of their institutional identity. The 1914 date places this medal in the early twentieth century, when patriotic societies were at the height of their cultural influence and regularly commissioned medals for annual meetings, conventions, and special occasions. Bronze was the standard composition for organizational medals of this type, offering a dignified and durable medium for commemorative purposes. The medal features a Washington portrait on the obverse with the Society's insignia or meeting-specific inscriptions on the reverse. Such organizational medals serve as important documents of the institutional veneration of Washington that persisted well into the twentieth century.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Organizational meeting medals were typically produced in limited quantities for distribution to attendees. The 1914 Baker-U-345 variety is uncommon in the numismatic marketplace.

Cross References

Baker-U-345; PCGS #909494