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GWI 29-A 1793 Washington Portrait Cent
Color: Slate Gray.
Metal: Thick Flat, 1-Piece, Molded Lead.
Size: 30.92mm.
Rarity: R-2
Variety Type: 1793 Dated /George Washington
Portrait.
Present Condition: An Excavated Specimen,
Fair Planchet Condition, Fair Impressions
Remain.
Obverse Button Analysis:
This is considered a GW Inaugural button to myself
because of the sentiment and date of use. This is the
only Inaugural button that was not engraved in a steel
die or produced for sale to the public as others were.
This is a poor mans GW button to show that he has
patriotism and pride. There was a segment of the
population that even couldn't afford a copper example,
but there patriotism and loyalty, and love for George
Washington was overwhelming with sentiment. This small
segment of the population would take a copper 1793 penny
and wrap over the cent in copper making a sort of mold
shell. They would fill the empty shells with cheap lead
and then twist a copper wire in a loop and and insert it
to the back to serve as a wire shank. This was a cleaver
idea
for
it allowed the poor person to use a quality engraved
portrait of Washington without paying the price of a
specially made engraved celebratory button. This type of
button also supports my conclusion that everyone in
America wore or obtained by any means George Washington
Inaugural buttons. ~ Even a Poor man can hold-up high a
George Washington button pinned to his chest. ~ Real
American Patriotism at it's roots.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 29 A-1:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price:
Yes
Current Button Owner and Location: ~ Oklahoma ~
*Several conversations with Diggers revealed to me
that several of these were found over the years without
knowing what they actually were. They simply through
them in their bags and brought them home. Unfortunately,
I cannot quantify a number of known, or an original
population, but since several people have claimed to
have dug them I am placing an R-2 until further
evidence.-Robert J. Silverstein
* This button was found at the bottom of a box with
other family heirlooms from an old Alabama family.
The Gray Collection.
Previously the Isabela
Collection.~ |
