George Washington Medals

About This Series

Spanning from Revolutionary War commemoratives through present-day Mint productions, George Washington medals constitute the largest and most diverse medallic series in American numismatics. The Musante GW catalog documents over 1,200 types organized chronologically, encompassing military victory medals, inaugural medals from 1789, mourning medals after Washington's 1799 death, Masonic medals honoring his Freemasonry role, centennial celebration pieces, and ongoing commemorative issues. The artistic range is extraordinary: from crude 18th-century coppers to exquisitely engraved silver presentation medals. The older Baker catalog (1885) established the foundational numbering before the Musante reference expanded the field. Washington's evolving image — from general to statesman to national icon — can be traced through changing portrait styles across two and a half centuries. Struck in every conceivable metal from lead through gold, Washington medals range from common bronze restrikes to unique presentation pieces worth hundreds of thousands, ensuring the series accommodates collectors at every level and budget.