Circa 1793 Washington Success Token. Small Size. Musante GW-44 var. Baker-Unlisted, Breen-1292 var. Brass. Scalloped edge. AU-55 (PCGS). 18.9 mm. 32.3 grains. A really interesting specimen from the Martin Collection, one that seems to have eluded most writers over the years, suggesting great rarity. We sold a silvered brass example that has masqueraded as silver for years in our November 2021 presentation of the E Pluribus Unum Collection. The plating of that gave it a curious look and both major grading services declined to certify it, despite its purported provenance back to Virgil Brand, per Breen. It was last sold in our December 1983 Roper sale. When we cataloged it (on both occasions), it was the only piece we recalled having seen on a scalloped planchet of this nature, but this is very different. It is clearly a struck brass piece, with no surfacing to mask its finer details. This is a very rare specimen of this series. <p><p>The surfaces are rich golden brass with just enough patina and trivial spotting to speak to its considerable age. It has been nicely cared for, however, as it is lustrous and very attractive. Only a slight obverse scratch is noted, in the left field.<p><p>As stated in our November 2021 sale, George Fuld did not mention this variant in his reissue of the Baker reference in 1965, nor was it clearly mentioned in the Rulau-Fuld version, though there is mention of a "scalloped edge" which is defined therein as the "peculiarly reeded edge" normal to the Baker-267 variant. This seems a possible confusion of notes. Breen cataloged the Roper piece as "unique" both for its assumed silver composition and its edge, presumably.<p><p>In recent years, Neil Musante published this very piece, plated on page 101 of his <em>Medallic Washington</em>. Though the plate makes it appear as a white medal, in hand it is unmistakable as brass. It would seem that with at least two scalloped examples in existence, this variety is more than a curiosity and is a legitimate, rare, and highly collectable variety of the small Success medal.<p> From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Purchased from James King, July 2008.
