1897 George Washington Fairmount Park Monument Medal — NGC MS64 DPL (Top Pop)

Category: American Exonumia | Washingtonia | Historic Medals

Tags: George Washington Fairmount Park NGC MS64 DPL Baker Q-324 GW-1020 Top Pop

A Crown Jewel of Late 19th-Century Washingtonia

For serious collectors of American exonumia and presidential medallic history, finding a piece that combines historical significance, extreme rarity, and prooflike preservation is an extraordinary occurrence. Struck in 1897, this official commemorative medal marks the dedication of the grand George Washington Monument in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park.

Certified by NGC as MS64 Deep Prooflike (DPL), this specimen is not merely rare—it is the single finest example in existence, holding the absolute Top Pop position on the NGC census.

Design & Visual Appeal

Obverse: Classic Washington Portrait

The obverse features a crisp, right-facing bust profile of George Washington set against deeply mirrored fields. The portrait exhibits frosted high-relief details, framed by an intricate engine-turned border pattern that adds remarkable depth and Victorian elegance.

Reverse: The Fairmount Park Monument

The reverse depicts a detailed structural rendering of the equestrian Washington Monument erected in Fairmount Park. Surrounding the central motif, the raised inscription reads:

WASHINGTON MONUMENT FAIRMOUNT PARK PHILADA. PA. / DEDICATED MAY 15, 1897

Technical Rarity & Condition Breakdown

White metal (babbit/pewter alloy) is notoriously soft and susceptible to carbon spots, hazing, and contact marks over decades of handling. For a white metal medal to survive over 125 years with pristine reflective fields requires miraculous environmental protection.

• Coveted DPL Contrast: Struck from early die states, this piece earned NGC's Deep Prooflike (DPL) designation, displaying intense contrast between watery mirror fields and frosted design elements.

• NGC Census Leader: NGC reports a total population of strictly 3 pieces across all grades for the Baker Q-324 / GW-1020 catalog variety.

• Top Pop Distinction: At MS64 DPL, this coin stands alone as the single highest-graded example in existence, with 0 graded higher.

Specifications Summary

Collector Takeaway

Whether anchoring a competitive NGC Registry Set of George Washington exonumia or serving as the focal point of a 19th-century Philadelphia historical collection, this 1897 Fairmount Park Monument Medal offers unmatched eye appeal, historical pedigree, and unrepeatable condition rarity.

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