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THB(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button, Unity, Prosperity + Independence Legend Button Rarity
Lot 100
About Seller
Early American History Auctions
1520 Commerce St., #312
Winchester, VA 22601
United States
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $6,000
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$3,250
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About Auction
Live
By Early American History Auctions
Dec 20, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-12-20 12:00:00
2025-12-20 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Early American History Auctions - December 20, 2025
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/early-american-history-auctions---december-20-2025-21473
199 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Historic Maps & more. Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
199 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Historic Maps & more. Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
View Full Catalog (199)
- Lot Description
Washington Buttons
George Washington Inaugural Button "Unity Prosperity & Independence" Legend with Large Central "Star" Surrounded by 13 Smaller Stars, Albert WI-PC2, Cobb-21 Major Rarity
(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button, "Unity, Prosperity & Independence" Legend Button with Large Central "Star" and Surrounded by 13 Smaller Stars Type, Cobb-21, Albert PC-2, DeWitt-GW 1789-12, Baker-1012, Brass, with Original Shank, details of Fine.
34 mm. Listed by Cobb as Rarity-6 (One of about 3 known) with only a few located since. Albert classifies this type as a Patriotic Button, but the J. H. Cobb catalog of George Washington Buttons lists this as a Washington Inaugural Button (Cobb-21), and this major type is currently accepted by the numismatic community as a Washington Inaugural Button. The surface color is deep brown with matte surfaces and shows tinges of light green from the underlying brass. It has overall micro-roughness. Its original shank is fully intact but bent down. The revised Cobb catalog (available online) states that only 3 examples of this rare button type are known and lists 2 owners as of 1968. The few more have come to market, mostly dug and in poor quality, yet this major type remains very rare.
Though listed by Cobb, he apparently did not own this variety as it was not present in his collection when it was sold January 21-23, 2003 by Stack's as part of their Americana sale as lot numbers 1326-1365. This rare major design type is lacking in most all George Washington Inaugural Button collections. The last example of this type we offered was sold in our May 27, 2023 auction Lot 148 graded Very Fine with a reattached shank, which sold for $5,750. Harold Cobb imaged and plated this type among his Washington Inaugurals, as did DeWitt, Richard Rulau, and George Fuld when they added this section to their "Baker" reference book revision in 1999. Overall, a fully intact example with its original shank that is very collectible.
We ship what we sell.
KEYWORDS:
George Washington, Inaugural Button, Unity Prosperity & Independence, Patriotic Button, 1789
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