J.NA-18/20. Pennsylvania Medal to Oliver Hazard Perry, 1813. Copper bronzed, 59.6mm, 6.4mm maximum thickness. By Moritz Furst. Choice About Uncirculated. Obv. Uniformed bust r., PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA below, second die without engraver's name. Rev. Battle scene on Lake Erie. Absolutely terminal state shows the reverse die collapsing around the base of the legend, its surface dropping abnormally low within this disintegrating periphery. This obverse is normally paired with the oval-wreath reverse, NA-18 and 19. Another example showing this extraordinary die state was lot 5333 in the David W. Dreyfuss Collection, accompanied by the cataloguer's plaintive question ''but how does one grade a collapsed reverse?'' Unlisted in Julian, no example appeared in the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection. Glossy chocolate brown patina.
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