(c.1858) Bronze Medal GW-130-R2 - Civic Procession

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 162 and Musante GW-130, this bronze second restrike (designated R2) of the Civic Procession Medal was produced circa 1858 from the original dies after they had already been used for the first run of restrikes. The Civic Procession Medal commemorates Washington's inaugural procession through New York City on April 30, 1789, depicting his progress from Cherry Street to Federal Hall where he took the presidential oath. The obverse features Washington's bust, and the reverse preserves a scene of the civic procession that accompanied the new president through the streets. Second restrikes are identifiable through their die state — the dies show additional wear, fatigue cracks, and surface deterioration compared to earlier impressions, providing numismatic evidence of the production sequence. These die-state progressions are important diagnostic tools for researchers cataloging the restrike history of popular Washington medals, as each successive generation of strikings from aging dies produces subtly different characteristics in the finished medals. Scarce compared to first restrikes, the R2 designation indicates a later production that is less commonly encountered in the marketplace but remains more available than original strikings from the first use of the dies. The Civic Procession Medal's enduring popularity ensured that dies were used across multiple restrike generations, documenting the sustained collector demand for this historically significant Washington commemorative throughout the 19th century.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Second restrikes are less common than first restrikes.

Cross References

Baker 162; Musante GW-130