Washington Centennial & Anniversary Medals

About This Coin

Capturing the outpouring of medallic commemoration produced during major anniversary celebrations of Washington's life and presidency, this category saw its most prolific period in 1889, when the centennial of Washington's inauguration generated hundreds of distinct medal types from manufacturers across the United States. Additional anniversary medals appeared for the bicentennial of his birth (1932), the sesquicentennial of the inauguration (1939), and various local commemorations. Values range from $720 to $2,300 depending on composition and issue, with a notable result reaching $55,000 in SP64 at Stack's Bowers. Many centennial medals were pierced for wearing as badges during public celebrations, documenting the functional use of medals as patriotic accessories. The volume of centennial medal production means that individual varieties range from common pieces sold by the thousands to rare experimental compositions. Collectors pursuing this subcategory within the George Washington Medals series can build expansive collections organized chronologically by the anniversary events they celebrate.