 Voltaire Medal, ca. 1778. Silver, 40.1mm, 3.36mm thick at rim, 551.8 grains (35.76 grams). Baker 78, Betts 544. Choice Extremely Fine or better. Obv. Distinctive head r., enigmatic title WASHINGTON ER. GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY IN AMERICA. The enigmatic abbreviation ''ER.'' has been suggested as Esquire, but has never been fully defined, as this cataloguer noted in his 1999 presentation before the Washingtoniana-theme A.N.S. 1999 Conference on Coinage of the Americas. Rev. Trophy of arms, French tribute to Washington's combining the Talents of a Warrior with the Virtues of a Sage. Both sides are boldly reflective, with diffused gold and steel toning. Examination under a glass will discover a few insignificant tics. Plain Edge shows a faint disturbance like an attempted piercing at 1:00, which is not visible from either side. This has the proper 'ring' for a struck Silver piece but is extremely heavy, 551.8 grains compared to Michael J. Hodder's records of 290.5, 375.3, 352 and 290.5 grains for other known Silver examples.
C. Wyllys Betts cited William Sumner Appleton's pioneer 1878 Description of Medals of Washington in the American Journal of Numismatics for reporting that the first mention of this medal was an entry in the journal of Massachusetts Loyalist refugee Samuel Curwen in April 1778. Curwen, whose numismatic connections included ownership of the only known Copper '5' Nova Constellatio Pattern stated that this medal was struck for the aged philosophe Voltaire, who died only a month after its appearance.
This medal presents an earlier die state than the John J. Ford, Jr. specimen appearing in our May 2004 sale, lot 109. The present example has no obverse rim cud and only a whisper of die rust. The Ford cataloguer listed seven known in Silver, including the holed Norweb example, and museum collection pieces in the Massachusetts Historical Society and in Vienna. This delightful example offers Washington collectors an opportunity not to be missed.
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