Related person George Washington (American, 1732 – 1799)

George Washington commemorative coat button

1811–1832

Place madeUnited States, North America

PossiblyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

Copper

Overall: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)

Gift of William L. Calver

1925.168a

This button and related example 1925.168b are among a group traditionally believed to have been made for George Washington's first and second inaugurations. However, they were probably worn on the uniforms of one of several Philadelphia organizations that sought to honor and preserve Washington's legacy in the early decades of the nineteenth century. These two buttons represent two of the twenty-three patterns for such buttons recorded as of 1996. See Donald L. Fennimore, "Metalwork in Early America" (Winterthur, 1996), p. 353.

DescriptionCircular copper coat button stamped along upper edge "LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT" and stamped "GW" within cross-hatched oval at center; loop shank at center of reverse.

Markingsstamped: on obverse: "LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT" and "GW"

ClassificationsHISTORIC RELICS