UNITED STATES. George Washington. Funeral medal, urn reverse. Silver medal. 8.95 gm. 29.5 mm. By Jacob Perkins of Newbury, Massachusetts. (1800). Bust of Washington, in uniform, facing left; HE IS IN GLORY, THE WORLD IN TEARS around / A funeral urn inscribed GW; B. F. 11. 1732. G. A. ARM. '75. R. '83. P. U. S. A. 89. | R. '96 G. ARM. US. '98. OB. D. 14. 1799. in two concentric lines around and above. Holed, as made. Musante GW-70. (Obv. 3. Rev. D) Baker 166A. Very Fine; some use-related damage; the overall details are clear and the color is good. In hand, the medal is more appealing than the photograph suggests; the light in the photography somewhat exaggerates the scratches. Rare.
The extensive offering of these medals in the recent Baker Collection sale includes no example of the silver-only issue of the 3-D die combination.
These were worn in homage to George Washington at a Boston civic procession. Musante notes that two of the "largest and most widely reported processions were held in Boston." This piece, as do others in the series, shows wear suggesting that the owners kept them and wore them (or carried them in their pockets) long after the funeral.