(ca. 1797) Lead Medal GW-66 Uniface - Copper Plated

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 76 and Musante GW-66, this unusual uniface medal from circa 1797 was struck in lead and subsequently copper plated — a combination of materials and techniques that suggests it may be a trial striking, a splasher (an impression taken from another piece), or an inexpensive reproduction made for a collector or dealer. The uniface format, bearing a design on only one side with the reverse remaining blank, further supports the interpretation of this piece as a production artifact rather than a finished commemorative. Lead's softness allowed it to capture extremely fine die detail, making it a preferred medium for trial impressions and die proofs throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The copper plating was applied to improve the visual appearance of the soft gray lead surface, giving the medal a warmer, more durable exterior coating that also protected the soft base metal from handling damage. Very rare as a survival, uniface lead medals are unusual pieces that document the manufacturing and testing processes behind the production of Washington commemorative medals during the 1790s. The GW-66 catalog designation places this piece within the comprehensive Musante numbering system that organizes all known Washington medals chronologically, and its Baker 76 cross-reference connects it to the older Baker catalog that served as the standard Washington medal reference for over a century.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Uniface lead medals are unusual survivals.

Cross References

Baker 76; Musante GW-66