Washington Funeral medal
Date1799
Struck by
Jacob Perkins
MediumGold
DimensionsDiameter: 29 mm
Credit LineGift of the Lasser family
Object number2003-22,90
Label TextWashington's death in late 1799 occasioned many different sorts of memorial events. February 1800 saw two huge funeral processions held for George Washington in Boston. The first was a Masonic function attended by an estimated 1600 brethren, while the larger, public one was held on Washington's birthday. These medals were made to be worn by mourners at these processions, with gold specimens going to those who were close to Washington. The obverse bears the inscription HE IS IN GLORY, THE WORLD IN TEARS around a wreathed bust of Washington and the reverse shows a funerary urn inscribed GW.
Exhibition(s)
Established March 20, 1770; awarded to Nathaniel Burwell, 1772
Ca. 1790
