(1790s) Bronze Medal Washington-Success Large, Plain Edge

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

The Washington Success medal in large-size bronze with plain edge is one of the most recognized early American medallic issues, produced in England during the 1790s. Cataloged as Baker-265 in the older Baker reference, this piece features a crude but distinctive portrait of Washington on the obverse with the legend SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES, while the reverse displays an heraldic eagle. The large-module Success tokens were produced in Birmingham, England, where numerous Washington-themed pieces were struck for export to the American market during the 1790s. These tokens served a dual purpose as expressions of political sympathy for the new American republic and as practical trade pieces that could circulate alongside official coinage in an era of chronic small-change shortages. The plain-edge variant is distinguished from its reeded-edge counterpart by the smooth, unornamented rim, which may indicate a different production run or intentional variety. The bronze composition and substantial size give this piece a medal-like presence that sets it apart from the smaller Washington cent-sized tokens of the same period. Collectors have long prized the Success series as among the most accessible and historically evocative of all Washington tokens.

Rarity Notes

The large plain-edge variety appears less frequently than the reeded-edge version. Most surviving examples show moderate to heavy wear from contemporary circulation.

Cross References

Baker-265; Musante GW-41; PCGS #779