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GWI
5-A, B & C "GW" WITH SALIENT SUNBURST BORDER:
This button was manufactured in
either stamped brass or copper, and has raised capital lettering
for the motto. This is a flat one-piece button with a
soldered on loop shank. The Size for A is 32mm, B is
33mm, and C is 35mm. The Rarity Rating for A is R-6, and
B & C is R-7. This button has a
Script "GW" Monogram in the
center, with a
Colonial Swirl off the "W" which
encompasses both letters. There is an appearance of a
stamped ring outside the monogram which helps give a nice entrance to
the narrow channel that contains the
motto. Inside the channel is the popular slogan used on
Washington's ceremony,
"Long Live the President."
in all Roman Font Capital Letters. Separating the beginning and
ending of the motto is a small
Cross at the six o'clock
position. Located on the outside flat field are Pyramidal
shaped decorative designs that ring the inner channel. The pyramidal
design is almost tree like in nature with long to
short incuse lines. GWI 5-A, has 23 pyramidal
designs, GWI 5-B has 24, and GWI 5-C has 28 Pyramidal
designs.
(The are four known Examples for all three Varieties
A-2, B-1, and C-1).
GWI 5-A
"GW" WITH SALIENT SUNBURST BORDER
Color: A Nicely Re-Toned Dark Yellow Brass with A
Light Golden-Green Hue.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Impressed Design with
Raised Lettering in Circular Channel, Brass.
Size: 31.4mm.
81.8 Grains
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: 23 Pyramidal Impressions, 32mm.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Good
Planchet Casting, Good Impressions.
Obverse Button Analysis: A nicely preserved button,
with good clear details. There is a slight waviness to
the planchet, but its hardly noticeable, and doesn't detract from the button. The center's fancy script "G" in the GW monogram
has a weak strike, and is shallow in some areas.
The "W" has a nice deep strike, but the colonial swirl is
shallow, and worn flat at the 6 o'clock position. The
narrow channel well that houses the slogan only has
alight foot print for depth, and is worn flat in some
areas. All the Roman font capital letters for the slogan, "Long Live The
President" is still readable, but worn
flat. Most of the buttons
pyramidal flames have a deep strike, and are still
individually distinguishable. The only exception is the ones around 6:30 and 10 o'clock position.
These pyramids are completely worn flat into the field of the
device. The surface has some minor scratches and
abrasions in between the pyramidal flames at
the 12:00 o'clock position, but they do not interfere
with the pyramidal flame designs. The button was lightly
cleaned long ago, but has nicely started to re-tone.
This is a nice addition to anyone's collection.
Reverse Button Analysis:
This is flat a one-piece button with a soldered on loop
shank. The shank was re-soldered by Cobb. The
surface is smooth with a few abrasions. Cobb descriptive
label on back.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 5 A-1:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price: Yes
Current Button Owner and Location:
No
Stacks Auctions January 15, 2003.~
Harold Cobb/Descendants 1950 to 2003.~
Purchased from Harvey (S. Luscomb) in 1950.~
Both
Albert and Cobb Rated this an R-6 with less then 5
specimens known. Cobb only knew of two specimens (Sally
Luscomb and Wilsons).
The Albert Plate Specimen was used to illustrate WHB 7
in 1949. Another example by Asa Bird Gardner was used in
a magazine of American History in 1883.
After Albert and Cobb's had a disagreement and fell out,
A different specimen was used to illustrate RAU.WI5-A in
1976.
There
is another
possibly known example of GWI 5-A that is rumored to
Reside in Cortland, N.Y. , but No Records or Pictures
were ever published.
GWI 5-B
"GW" WITH SALIENT SUNBURST BORDER
Color: A Dark Golden Brown Patina with
Yellowish Green Highlights.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Impressed Design with
Raised Lettering in Circular Channel, Brass.
Size: 31.3mm.
85.7 Grains
Rarity: R-7
Variety Type: 24 Pyramidal Impressions.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Strong
Planchet Casting, Strong Impressions.
Obverse Button Analysis: This button has a nicely toned patina, with
good clear details. The
surface is granular in appearance, and is kind of porous.
I think these qualities adds to it's charm. The fancy Script
"GW" Monogram has a nice deep strike, with clear
readable letters. The stamped
concentric ring just outside the monogram gives good
separation between the "GW" monogram and the slogan. The
narrow channel well that contains the motto is nicely inset
and allows for the slogans letters to show volume. The
Roman font capital lettering in the motto, "Long Live
The President" is still well defined, but
unfortunately lacks clarity
due to the button's porous nature. The 24 pyramidal
flames also have a nice deep strike, and show no signs of flat wear
or smoothness. As noted earlier, the outside field lends
to micro porosity throughout, but definitely lends a nice
color and charm to the device.
Reverse Button Analysis:
This is flat a one-piece button with a soldered on loop
shank. The shank is original and intact. The
surface is rough and porous.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 5 B-1:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price: Yes
Current Button Owner and Location:
No
Stacks
Sale January 15, 2003.~
Harold Cobb/Descendants 1962 to 2003.~
Cobb Purchased from Peter Shurto in 1962.~
The Albert Plate Specimen
was chosen to illustrate RAU WI 5-B in 1976. The fact
that Albert used a plate of cobb's specimen to
illustrate 5B suggests he did not have one of his own to
photograph. Most likely there are less then 5 specimens
known, Cobb only knew of the one specimen which was his.
This was found by Peter Shurto in 1962 in an old Jewelry
Box in an Estate (R.I. Bannisters) in Old Saybrook, CT.
GWI 5-C
"GW" WITH SALIENT SUNBURST BORDER
Color: A Beautiful Toned Brass White Yellow
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Impressed Design with
Raised Lettering in Circular Channel, Silvered Copper.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-7
Variety Type: 28 Pyramidal Impressions, Stippled,
35mm.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example,
Strong Planchet Casting, Exceptional Impressions.
Obverse Button Analysis: This Sub-Variety isn't
listed in Albert's Book or Documented anywhere, So we
added this new variety as WI 5-C. This button's pattern
shows exquisite details. The surface is
nice and smooth, but does show some natural micro-porosity
and pitting in the
metal. This could be due to the original planchet
casting when the button was first manufactured. The
Script "GW" Monogram, and the colonial swirl
off the "W" is nicely stamped with a good deep
impression. The narrow channel well has a nice deep
strike, and shows the slogans letters nicely. The
popular motto, "Long Live The President" is
easily readable with clear letter lines. In this die
variant ( Sub-Variety), there is a stipple ring around
the outside border of the channel well to give a little more
emphasis and flair to the pyramidal flames. The
pyramidal flames have a nice deep stamp with a clear
depiction. As noted earlier, the open field does exhibit some
micro-pitting,
but it seems to add to the age and charm of the button.
Ringing the periphery's edge is another stipple
ring which lends to the width and broadness to the
field. In this specimen, the stipples are still nicely
shown. This is
definitely a museum quality piece, and a necessary
addition in anyone's GW collection.
Reverse Button Analysis:
This is flat a one-piece button with a soldered on loop
shank. The shank is straight and intact.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 5 C-1:
History:
Recorded Sales Price: Yes
Current Button Owner and Location:
No
GWI 5-A "GW" WITH SALIENT SUNBURST
BORDER
(This Buttons Was Produced Using
the Same Die as Cobb's Original Specimen)
Color: A Coppery Brown With Silver
Highlights.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Impressed Design with Raised
Lettering in Circular Channel, Pewter.
Size: 31.4mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: 23 Pyramidal Impressions, 32mm.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Good
Planchet Casting, Good Impressions.
Obverse Button Analysis: A nice rare specimen that was
noted by Page Auctions as being previously owned by A.
Albert. I never came across any die variant Albert owned
using this pattern. On another note, this is not the
example Albert used in his own book either. After
studying the button, I did note that this is the "same
die" that was used for Cobb's original specimen. There
are a few tell tell signs in the die itself that led me
to this conclusion. We do know there were Pewter GW
buttons made during Washington's Presidency; so without
other historical information, I cannot reasonably say
that "without a doubt" that this was not made during his
term. The planchet is solid, but is no longer flat.
There are a few shallow depressions, and a wavy feel to
it. The Script, "GW" Monogram only shows a light foot
print for an impression, but does have flowing lines for
the most part. The Colonial Swirl off the "W" is a bit
shallow in depth, and has a flat spot around the 7
o'clock position. The circling channel well that houses
the slogan has a nice deep strike, and gives the letters
a fair amount of height and volume. All the Roman font
capital letters in the slogan, "Long Live The President"
are still easily to see and read, but some of the tops
are flat pressed. Most of the buttons pyramidal flames
have a strong impression with clear lines, except the
one between the "+" and the "L". There are some
blemishes around the button's edge, but most likely from
being handled through the ages. This is a nice rare
specimen that was made from the original die, and should
be a welcome specimen to
anyone's collection.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is flat a one-piece button
with a soldered on loop shank. The shank is original,
straight, and intact.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 5 A-2:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price:
Yes
Current Button Owner and Location:
~ Oklahoma ~
The Charles Gray Collection.
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