Deeply Toned Silver "Tyrant Alcohol" Medalet

(ca. 1840) Washington Tyrant Alcohol medalet. Silver, 21 mm. Baker-332A. Choice Very Fine. Holed for suspension. Reeded edge. A superb specimen of this popular and scarce medalet by C.C. Wright's erstwhile partner James Bale, deeply toned in rich and dark antique gray. Aside from the hole, found on almost every specimen of this type, this piece is problem free, with just light even wear from long-term wearing as a membership badge in the Washington Temperance Benevolent Society. The Society was founded in Baltimore in 1840 but quickly spread nationwide. As James Bale was based in New York City, this medalet may have been used as the badge for just the New York and other chapters in that vicinity. This specimen is only a little more worn (but is probably more choice) than an AU-53 grade example that sold in 2010 for a little more than $1300. While not quite so rare as the Rarity-8 assignment given in Rulau-Fuld, many major collections of Washingtoniana have lacked this important type.