1932 Medal Washington Bicentennial Uniface Bronze 75mm, 203g

Coin Details

Auction Record

$40 UNC Details 04-26-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1932 Washington Bicentennial uniface bronze medal at 75mm and weighing 203 grams is a large-format single-sided commemorative marking the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. The uniface format — struck on only one side — indicates this may be a trial strike, a presentation piece for special display purposes, or an artistic proof showing only the obverse design. Uniface medals were sometimes produced as design studies or as display pieces intended to be mounted or framed. At 75mm in diameter, this bronze medal matches the dimensions of the extraordinary gold version in the same series, but at approximately half the weight due to bronze's lower density compared to gold. The 203-gram weight indicates a substantial, thick planchet that would produce a medal with impressive heft and depth of relief. The single-sided striking concentrates all the artistic detail on one face, potentially allowing for deeper relief than would be achievable in a standard two-sided striking. The Washington Bicentennial generated one of the most extensive medallic programs in American history, with medals produced by the U.S. Mint, private manufacturers, and foreign mints in a wide range of sizes, metals, and formats. This uniface bronze represents an unusual variant within that program, produced in very small numbers for a specialized purpose. The 75mm format was reserved for premium commemoratives intended for institutional collections, presentation displays, or serious numismatic collectors.

Rarity Notes

Uniface medals in this large format are uncommon production variants. The 75mm bronze format was produced in limited quantities. The uniface striking indicates a trial, presentation, or display purpose that further limits surviving numbers.

Cross References

PCGS #683562; Washington Bicentennial 1732-1932; uniface