Washington Buttons
Rare "UNITY PROSPERITY & INDEPENDENCE" George Washington Inaugural Button Large Star & 13 Smaller Stars Type Rarity - Albert WI-PC2, Cobb-21
(1789) George Washington Inaugural Button, "UNITY PROSPERITY & INDEPENDENCE" with Large Star Surrounded by 13 Smaller Stars, Albert WI-PC2, Cobb-21, No shank, Fine.
Rarity-6. 34 mm. Detail of Very Fine, lacking its shank, bend across its midsection with a uniform overall light greenish-brass patina, as shown. The "UNITY PROSPERITY & INDEPENDENCE" legend's text letters are mostly clear, the stars well defined. The historic collection of J. H. Cobb's catalog of Washington Buttons lists this major type as Washington Inaugural Button (Cobb-21). The revised Cobb catalog states only three examples of this button design type are known, listing 2 owners, although others have since been identified. Although listed by Cobb, he apparently did not own an example as none was present in his collection when sold at auction in 2005. An important George Washington Inaugural Button rarity, lacking in most collections.