War and Peace in Miniature: Medals from the American Numismatic Society
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Virginia
October 2018–July 2020
Eighteenth-century medals helped form national identity and supported international diplomacy. Eager to establish America’s claim to nationhood, America’s founding fathers began commissioning official medals even before declaring political independence.
At the time of his death in 1799, George Washington owned an unequaled collection of the new nation’s medals. Drawing on the rich collections of the American Numismatic Society in New York, we are pleased to present a rare selection of America’s most important early medals, a miniature pageant of our nation’s history from 1776 through 1805.
Objects on loan
The ANS had a total of 30 objects on loan to this exhibition. Highlights of the loan include:
Copper Medal, United States. 1964.67.1
Lead Medal, Paris (France), 1790 – 1792. 1935.126.24
Silver Medal, Royal Mint, 1760 – 1820. 1919.154.1
Silver Medal, United States, 1780. 1945.23.7
Copper Medal, United States, 1747 – 1833. 0000.999.38320
Silver Medal of U.S. Government, Birmingham (Ala.), 1796. 1915.141.1
Bronze Decoration, United States, 1742 – 1786. 1940.80.2
Silver Medal of U.S. Government, United States, 1789. 1916.999.197
B Medal, United States, 1736 – 1802. 1967.225.523
Silver Medal, United States, 1732 – 1799. 0000.999.38279
Bronze Medal, Paris (France), 1777. 1967.226.79
Silver Medal, United States. 0000.999.38316
Bronze Medal, Town of Paris (Maine). 1940.100.187
Bronze Decoration, Town of Paris (Maine), 1752 – 1810. 0000.999.38343