One of the United States' most precious and important medal series is the Comitia Americana, a series of Revolutionary War-era medals commissioned by the Continental Congress to celebrate the American heroes and their foreign allies who fought for the independence of the United States of America. These medals hold extreme historical importance as they document some of the earliest moments of the independent fledgling nation engaging diplomatically with the international community. This medal, titled Washington Before Boston, celebrates and memorializes George Washington's heroic efforts at Dorchester Heights, which forced the British to evacuate Boston. This marked Boston as the first liberated major city from British occupation.

To memorialize this moment, Congress commissioned French engraver and medalist Benjamin Duvivier. The medal itself is about 68 millimeters wide, so about three or four fingers in diameter, and weighs around 134 grams. The medal here displayed is a warm, brown bronze medal. The side displayed is the obverse, or the front of the medal, and depicts Washington in profile facing right. The profile is undraped and based heavily on the now-famous sculpted bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon. Below his bust is the Latin phrase, Comitia Americana, which translates to the American Congress. Above the bust and following the circular curve of the medal's rim is a Latin phrase that translates to, George Washington, Supreme Commander of the Army and Defender of Liberty.