Getz Washington Tribute – 2 oz Silver Round

Before the young United States settled on the appearance of its national coinage, engravers explored designs that placed George Washington himself at the center. Our Getz Washington tribute revisits one of those early proposals in 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver. The 39mm round pairs a military portrait of the first president with an eagle and stars inspired by Peter Getz’s 1792 pieces.

An Early American Coinage Proposal

Peter Getz created dies for Washington pieces using two British copper proposals of 1791 as design references. The original Getz pieces were struck at John Harper’s coach house in Philadelphia, before the nation had an operating federal mint. They belong to a formative period when the design and production of American money were still taking shape.

The Smithsonian preserves a silver example and notes that only a few survive in that metal. Its account explains that the portrait proposal was not adopted after Washington declined the honor, apparently preferring Liberty on the national coinage. The design therefore offers a glimpse of an alternative direction for America’s early coins. This round is a modern tribute to that history.

Obverse Design

Washington faces left in military uniform, with a tied queue, detailed coat and epaulet. “G. WASHINGTON. PRESIDENT. I.” surrounds the portrait, and the historic date 1792 appears beneath it. A border of dentils frames the composition. The date identifies the original design’s era rather than the production year of this silver round.

Reverse Design

An eagle raises its wings beneath a field of fifteen stars, with a shield across its breast and an olive branch and arrows in its talons. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” follows the perimeter, while small modern weight and purity markings appear below the eagle. The dentil border echoes the obverse and gives both faces the character of an early coinage proposal.

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Composition: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39mm
• Thickness: Approximately 6mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

A Design from the Nation’s Beginning

This tribute brings Washington portraiture and early American minting history together in a substantial silver format. Explore more designs in our silver round collection.