There's a pleasing symmetry to an auction of a single object belonging to the first president.  If you're going to keep it simple, however, it helps if the object in question is unique -- say, an Order of Cincinnati Medal -- and is estimated to fetch up to $10,000,000. That will be the case at Sotheby's on December 11 when you can bid on Washington's gold medal, which has not been seen in America since the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.

Made in France in 1784, the medal was subsequently presented by Washington's family to the great man's respected colleague, Marquis of Lafayette, in 1824.  The Society of Cincinnati, founded by the officers of the Continental Army in 1783, was intended to maintain the ideals of the American Revolution.  It had quite an impressive membership, including 23 signers of the Constitution. For their first president they selected, not surprisingly, George Washington.

--David Coggins