1783 (1860) Washington Draped Bust Copper. Restrike. Musante GW-107, Baker-3, var., Vlack 17-L, W-Unlisted. Copper. Plain Edge. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). A scarcer variety of this popular restrike, neither the Baker nor Whitman references include attributions for plain edge strikings from the Vlack 17-L dies. This piece does exhibit bronzed surfaces, as described for W-10370, although the edge style for that attribution is not given in the Whitman reference. Both sides exhibit beautiful deep orange-copper patina with a subtle mingling of olive highlights. Fully struck with an overall smooth satin texture, one or two tiny marks are all that seem to preclude a full Gem grade. According to Neil Musante in the 2016 reference <em>Medallic Washington, Volume I</em>, examples of this type were issued by Australian medalist W.J. Taylor from dies prepared circa 1860 using the original device punches.
