 1801 Thomas Jefferson Inaugural Medal. J.PR.2, Witham plate 14. White metal. 45.1 mm. 4.5 - 4.8 mm. thick. By John Reich. About Uncirculated. Medium gray color. Fields somewhat flashy and semi-prooflike. Some abrasions, a field mark in the lower left obverse, rims slightly defective. The obverse shows Jefferson's bust facing left with his inaugural date noted in the inscription, around. The back shows Athena placing the Declaration of Independence upon an altar inscribed ''Constitution''. Very rare: in fact, rarer than the silver examples of which the cataloguer has traced 12 different. Carlson wrote in 1986 that he had found only 10 auction records for white metal specimens and felt there were only three or four different pieces known. These Reich medals were offered for sale to the public starting in February, 1802. Apparently, more silver pieces were successfully sold than white metal ones.
Ex Wayte Raymond Estate.
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