George Washington Colonial Medal - Westwood Baker 80B

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George Washington Colonial Medal - Westwood Baker 80B ca. 1800 First Dies George Washington Westwood Medal George Washington Medal Bronze , 41 mm , Baker 80B Nice bronze Washington Westwood Medal with dies by John Westwood in England. This medal is the first reverse, which can be identified by the missing periods after PEOPLE and below 68 in the reverse. Nice dark chocolate type surfaces, some corrosion seems to be in the fields and a small ding in the reverse edge at 2:30 o'clock. Overall great condition and a good addition to a Washingtonia collection. The Rulau catalog prices (from 1999 and completely out dated...) EFspecimens at $300; however recent pricing is multiples over that estimate these days..; reasonable reserve to protect our investment. A must medal for Washingtonia enthusiasts. As with all our items for sale, please see below the important historical significance of this medal. Visit my store for more historical medals and rare medals and tokens. History and Significance George Washington Military Career George Washington's military career can be summarized as follows. The Continental Congress appointed Washington commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary forces in 1775. The following year, he forced the British out of Boston , lost New York City , and crossed the Delaware River in New Jersey , defeating the surprised enemy units later that year. As a result of his strategy, Revolutionary forces captured the two main British combat armies at Saratoga Yorktown . Negotiating with Congress, the colonial states, and French allies, he held together a tenuous army and a fragile nation amid the threats of disintegration and failure. Following the end of the war in 1783, Washington retired to his plantation at Mount Vernon , prompting an incredulous King George III to state, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world." Dissatisfied with the Articles of Confederation, he presided over the Philadelphia Convention that drafted the United States Constitution in 1787. Washington became President of the United States in 1789 and established many of the customs and usages of the new government's executive department. He sought to create a great nation capable of surviving in a world torn asunder by war between Britain and France . His unilateral Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793 provided a basis for avoiding any involvement in foreign conflicts. He supported plans to build a strong central government by funding the national debt, implementing an effective tax system, and creating a national bank. Washington avoided the temptation of war and began a decade of peace with Britain via the Jay Treaty in 1795; he used his prestige to get it ratified over intense opposition from the Jeffersonians. Resignation One of Washington 's most important contributions as commander-in-chief was to establish the precedent that civilian-elected officials, rather than military officers, possessed ultimate authority over the military. Throughout the war, he deferred to the authority of Congress and state officials, and he relinquished his considerable military power once the fighting was over. In March 1783, Washington used his influence to disperse a group of Army officers who had threatened to confront Congress regarding their back pay. Washington disbanded his army and announced his intent to resign from public life in his "Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States ." A few days later, the British evacuated New York City , and Washington and the governor took possession of the city; at Fraunces Tavern in the city on December 4, he formally bade his officers farewell. On December 23, 1783, Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief to the Congress of the Confederation. Source: , Medallic Portraits of Washington by Russell Rulau and George Fuld, among others Terms / Shipping / Handling Information Please read and understand our full terms of sale. By bidding on our item, yo... read more

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