Medal

Art Historical Context

This petite copper medal, in 1861, the enduring profile of George, a motif that resonated during a time of national crisis. Measuring just 1¼ inches in, it exemplifies 19-century American numismatic art—small engravings produced via dies to commemorate heroes and ideals. As the Civil War erupted that year, such medals proliferated, serving as pocket-sized talismans of patriotism and Union loyalty, evoking Washington's role as the nation's founding father. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this piece was generously gifted by William H. Huntington in 188. Its probable co...