Medal

Art Historical Context

Crafted in 1864 by engraver John A. Bol, this petite metal medal (just 1 1/8 inches in) features a classical profile portrait of George Washington the revered first president of the United States.en, a prolific 19th-century American medal, specialized in patriotic tokens that captured national heroes in the style of ancient Roman coins, blending historical reverence with accessible artistry. Produced during the height of the Civil War, medals served as wearable symbols of unity and endurance, evoking Washington's leadership amid national division. The medal's intimate scale and metal medium highlight the era's die-struck technique, where intricate designs were stamped into thin metal for mass production and personal devotion. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing since William H. Huntington's 1883 gift, it exemplifies 19th-century American numismatic art—affordable yet elegant keepsakes that kept Washington's image alive in pockets and collections. Today, it reminds us how profile portraits immortalized ideals of virtue and resolve, bridging classical antiquity with American identity.