 1817 James Madison Presidential Medal. J.PR.3, Neuzil 43. White metal. 63.8 mm. 4.4 - 4.7 mm. thick. By Moritz Furst (obverse). Choice Uncirculated. Nice, even medium silver gray color. The fields are bright and somewhat reflective. Overall, superior quality for this rare medal, nicer than Dreyfuss' (1986 at $1,760) and the one ex New York Public Library (2000 at $4,620). The obverse, by Furst, shows Madison's bust facing right with his presidential dates inscribed around. The reverse, by an unknown engraver, refers to what contemporaries called ''Mr. Madison's War'' (the War of 1812). As Neuzil convincingly argues, Furst's obverse was married to the reverse after the latter had been cut down to match sometime after 1817. Rare: Carlson found over 40 auction records for white metal specimens but in the past decade only a few have been publicly sold. The medal always comes in white metal; the unique silver specimen is in the ANS Collection. Reverse state slightly earlier than the next.
Ex Wayte Raymond Estate.
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