Washington Funeral Medal – Skull and Crossbones Silver Tribute

“HE IS IN GLORY, THE WORLD IN TEARS.” Few inscriptions capture the emotion of early American mourning more directly. This 2 troy ounce .999 fine silver tribute revisits the Washington funeral medal tradition, pairing a dignified portrait with a skull and crossbones and a compact record of public service.

A Medal Made for Mourning

George Washington died at Mount Vernon on December 14, 1799, and was buried there on December 18. Public commemorations continued into the following year. In February 1800, Boston held two major funeral processions, including a Masonic gathering with an estimated 1,600 participants. Medals worn by mourners made remembrance a visible, personal act.

Colonial Williamsburg preserves an original skull-and-crossbones funeral medal attributed to Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Its portrait and mortality imagery belong to a period when medals served as keepsakes of shared civic events. This modern silver tribute presents that historic visual language in a substantial 39 mm format.

Obverse Design

A left-facing bust of Washington rests within a laurel wreath. The surrounding memorial inscription contrasts heavenly glory with earthly grief, while a beaded border completes the portrait. Washington appears in military dress, linking the commemoration to his role in winning American independence.

Reverse Design and Historic Dates

The skull and crossbones sit beneath abbreviated inscriptions recording Washington’s military and presidential career. The lower hallmark identifies the modern tribute as two troy ounces of .999 fine silver.

The historical inscriptions should be read as part of the medal design, rather than as a corrected modern chronology. The February 11 birthday reflects the old-style calendar date; Washington’s birthday is now observed as February 22. The medal’s December 15 death notation differs from the documented December 14, 1799 date, and Washington’s presidency actually continued until March 4, 1797. These differences are part of the original medal’s story.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.00 troy ounces
• Metal: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: approximately 6 mm
• Edge: Smooth
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

© Copyright 2019 – Intaglio Industries, Inc.

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