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

Coin Details

Auction Record

$32,900 VF30 08-08-2013 Heritage Auctions

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

Moderately scarce in collectible grades. 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