Circa 1793 Washington Success Token. Large Size. Third Obverse. Musante GW-43, Baker-265, var., Breen-1288, DeWitt-GW 1792-1. Brass. Plain edge. MS-62 (PCGS).24.8 mm. 73.9 grains. Lovely olive brass toning with some lighter golden surfaces remaining in some of the more protected areas of the fields. Glossy and very attractive with just a subtle nick passing through the letters of STATES on the reverse. Softly struck at the centers as typical of this rare variety. A different obverse die than described for GW-41, still with a prominent break, but in a different position from that usually seen on the issue. This one passes from rim to rim through the second G of GEORGE to the left side of the S of WASHINGTON. Though the two obverse dies are similar, close study reveals other important stylistic differences including different letter punches. The reverse die is the same as used on the usual GW-41, however it is in a much later state here, with heavy areas of rust or spalling. The star and rays beneath the ST of STATES are severely disrupted while other heavily affected areas may be seen under the I of UNITED and to a lesser degree near the first S of SUCCESS. We have seen this reverse die state also paired with the usual GW-41 obverse with a plain edge, but it is rare. Close comparison of two such examples reveals that this die marriage is the later of the two, the reverse having been lightly lapped to remove some of the offending roughness, but the changes are minor in this respect. Evidence of the lapping is best seen in the slightly thinned letters and shorter, more pointed dentils on this pairing. This is a much rarer die pairing for the large Success medals, with perhaps 10 or more offerings of the GW-41 to every one of these.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of the Western Reserve Historical Society Collection, January 2003, lot 1413.
