WASHINGTON'S CHRISTMAS RESIGNATION

Washington's Christmas Resignation

 
General George Washington Resigning His Commission, by John Trumbull (1822-1824)

December 23 marked the 242nd anniversary of the resignation of General George Washington, which occurred in 1783 at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, where the Continental Congress was meeting. The well-known artistic recreation of the event, by the painter John Trumbull, now hangs in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, along with other Trumbull works – indeed, of the eight Rotunda paintings, Trumbull created four. Equally familiar is the conclusion of Washington's resignation speech: "Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life."

Trumbull's Washington Resigning imagery can be found in American numismatics, most notably on a 1918 $5,000 Federal Reserve note proof. This example, unique in private hands and ex. Grinnell, is part of a complete archive of 1914-1918 Federal Reserve face and back proofs and most recently appeared in Heritage Auctions' 2020 ANA sale. The Series of 1875 First Charter $1,000 National Bank note similarly depicts the Trumbull painting on the back.

 

 
1918 $5,000 Federal Reserve note face and back proofs, courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Link to Heritage Auctions offering of the 1914-1918 Federal Reserve notes archive:
https://currency.ha.com/itm/large-size/federal-reserve-notes/series-1914-1918-5-10-20-50-100-500-1000-5000-10-000-federal-reserve-note-face-and-back-proof-archive-gem-uncirculated/a/3578-20063.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515#

Link to "Washington Resigning" search results on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/searchwithterms?searchterm=washington%20resigning

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