Washington Success Tokens
Large Planchet
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undated Baker 265 Washington success token - large planchet
Obverse: GEORGE WASHINGTON
Reverse: SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES [five petal rosette]
Weight: 70.5 g (4.57 grams) Diameter: 25.48 mm Reverse die alignment: 180°
Comments: Listed by Fuld as Fuld WA.1792-5.2.Br and by Breen as 1286. This is a brass example wit a reeded edge. Currently there is a controversy as to whether these coins are associate with Washington's second inauguration and therefore date from the period ca. 1792-1795 or whether they are mid Nineteenth century gaming pieces. The obverse shows a bust right portrait of Washington in military dress, distinguished from the other large planchet Success token obverses by the long pointed nose. There is a long die crack, as found on most examples, running from the rim between the N and G of WASHINGTON up through the bridge of the nose; at the hairline the crack moves upward to the rim at about 11:00 o'clock. On the reverse is the Eye of Providence with fifteen stars and fifteen long rays. As the center is usually softly struck one can surmise the design was cut rather shallow in the die. Because of this weak eye it is difficult to determine how to align the reverse. Breen placed the rosette in the legend at 6:00 o'clock (as do Yeoman and Alexander), while Fuld placed in at 9:00 o'clock. Rulau showed the rosette at 11:00 o'clock. I have simple shown the reverse with a 180° coin turn, which places the rosette at about 7:00 o'clock! Also note on the reverse the letter E has a very small serif at the top of the letter and qute a large serif at the bottom. For additional information on the uncertain dating of the success tokens, see the introduction to this varitey on our Colonial Coin site.
Provenance: Acquired through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic
Endowment from the Chris McCawlet and Bob Grellman, Fourth Annual C-4 Convention Sale of U.S. Colonial Coins, Boston, Nov. 21, 1998, lot 473, graded as VF20.
Small Size - copper elecrotype
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undated Baker 267R Washington small success token - copper electrotype
Obverse: GEORGE WASHINGTON
Reverse: SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES [five petal rosette]
Weight: 35.6 g (2.31 grams) Diameter: 19.45 mm
Comments: Listed by Fuld as WA.1792-5.4b and by Breen as 1291. This example is an electrotype copy of the very rare small size copper plain edge variety. There was only a single set of dies for the small success tokens. Currently there is a controversy as to whether these coins are associate with Washington's second inauguration and therefore date from the period ca. 1792-1795 or whether they are mid Nineteenth century gaming pieces. The obverse shows a bust right portrait of Washington. On the reverse is the Eye of Providence with fifteen stars and fifteen long rays. As the center is usually softly struck on the small size success tokens one can surmise the design was cut rather shallow in the die. There is a noticeable double stamping at the rosette and at SUCC in SUCCESS. There is also doubling at the SS and in the two stars under the SS and the T.
Provenance: Acquired through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic
Endowment from EANA auction of November 1, 1997, lot 597.
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