(c.1960's) Medal FH-101 Copper 33mm George Washington

Coin Details

Description

This circa 1960s copper medal cataloged as FH-101 is a 33mm restrike featuring George Washington from the Fuld-Higby series of presidential and military medal reproductions. The Fuld-Higby catalog, compiled by George Fuld and Melvin Higby, documents a comprehensive series of restrikes and reproductions of historic American medals produced during the mid-twentieth century. These restrikes were made from transfer dies or new dies copied from original U.S. Mint and private medallic sources, making them accessible to collectors who could never afford the rare originals. The Washington portrait on FH-101 derives from one of the numerous medallic portraits created during and after the first president's lifetime. At 33mm in diameter, this copper version offers excellent detail reproduction, with the harder copper composition preserving sharper definition than the more commonly encountered yellow bronze version. The Fuld-Higby series spans hundreds of entries covering presidents, military heroes, historical events, and commemorative subjects. These mid-twentieth-century restrikes served an important educational function in American numismatics, allowing collectors and students to study the designs and iconography of medals that existed in only a handful of examples in institutional collections. The copper composition of FH-101 distinguishes it from the standard yellow bronze version and was typically produced in smaller quantities.

Rarity Notes

Fuld-Higby restrikes were produced in moderate quantities for collector distribution. The copper version of FH-101 is less common than the yellow bronze standard issue.

Cross References

PCGS #891365; FH-101 (Copper); Fuld-Higby Presidential Series