Exonumia, 1860, E. Hill Coin Dealer (Patriae Pater), Medal, MS64 PL, NGC

Exonumia, 1860-Medal, MS64, PL, E. Hill Coin Dealer (Patriae Pater), GW-233, NGC.

A charming and historically important numismatic store card issued by youthful New York coin dealer Ezra Hill. Pieces advertising coin dealers from so early a period are few and far between, making this medal one of the more intriguing survivals in the Washingtonia series. Hill operated from Bleecker Street in New York City for less than a year before succumbing to consumption in 1860 at the age of just twenty-two, the very year these medals were produced. As such, the issue stands not only as a Washington collectible but also as a tangible relic of one of America’s earliest generation of professional numismatists.

The obverse bears a handsome bust of Washington accompanied by the Latin inscription Patriae Pater, “Father of His Country,” while the dies themselves were executed by noted engraver Frederick C. Key. The combination of numismatic advertising, Washington iconography, and an issuer whose career was cut tragically short gives the medal an appeal well beyond that of the typical merchant card.

The present specimen is, so far as we are able to determine, the finest certified example encountered. The small number of pieces appearing at major public auction have generally graded only MS61 to MS62, making this MS64 Prooflike example particularly noteworthy. White metal pieces are notoriously prone to dulling and discoloration over time, yet this survivor remains unusually bright with deeply reflective surfaces and exceptional eye appeal. A delightful and highly elusive item for the Washingtonia enthusiast, exonumia specialist, or collector of early American numismatic history.