A wooden cask of about 4,000 of these “cents” was shipped to Philadelphia to be distributed to members of Washington’s cabinet as well as United States Senators and Congressmen. This was done in hope of impressing these gentlemen and securing a contract to mint large enough quantities to be distributed across the country.
By the middle of the 19th Century, this Unity States token was still in circulation in many of the original colonies of the United States. These tokens and all foreign coins became worthless and unacceptable as payment for any debts by the adoption of the Coinage Act of 1857.
This very rare token was named the “Washington the Great” token but is called the “Ugly Head” because the designer had no idea of what Washington looked like. Some experts speculated that this might have been a satirical piece rather than one to honor Washington.
Very little is known about the undated Washington “Success” tokens beyond a description of the pieces themselves. The obverse contains a bust-right portrait with the legend GEORGE WASHINGTON while the reverse depicts the Eye of Providence with fifteen long rays and a field of fifteen stars surrounded by the legend SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES.
It is believed that these tokens were also minted in Birmingham, England, by William Lutwyche. Although it also features a portrait of George Washington, in a military coat, facing left, it is an undated and undenominated piece.
There are two different types of Liberty and Security Tokens and several variations of each making for approximately seven distinct different Tokens. The first token, designed by Thomas Wyon, is undated and features a military bust of George Washington, facing right.
Much like the Washington Cents of 1791 and 1792, the Getz Patterns were struck by an outside contractor in hopes of establishing themselves as the possible official coinage of the new American Government. Robert Morris, head of the United States Senate Committee on coinage, hired engraver Peter Getz to strike coinage to his specifications.
A popular Washington Colonial Token is the “Double-Head” Token. This copper token is undated but even though it was struck in the 1820 – the 1840s, it is collected with colonial coins.
The 1609 Royal Charter allowed the Colony of Virginia to mint coinage for their uses. After 160 years, the Virginia Assembly authorized the striking of a Halfpenny in 1773 from the Tower of London Mint.
A wooden cask of about 4,000 of these “cents” was shipped to Philadelphia to be distributed to members of Washington’s cabinet as well as United States Senators and Congressmen. This was done in hope of impressing these gentlemen and securing a contract to mint large enough quantities to be distributed across the country.
By the middle of the 19th Century, this Unity States token was still in circulation in many of the original colonies of the United States. These tokens and all foreign coins became worthless and unacceptable as payment for any debts by the adoption of the Coinage Act of 1857.
This very rare token was named the “Washington the Great” token but is called the “Ugly Head” because the designer had no idea of what Washington looked like. Some experts speculated that this might have been a satirical piece rather than one to honor Washington.
Very little is known about the undated Washington “Success” tokens beyond a description of the pieces themselves. The obverse contains a bust-right portrait with the legend GEORGE WASHINGTON while the reverse depicts the Eye of Providence with fifteen long rays and a field of fifteen stars surrounded by the legend SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES.
It is believed that these tokens were also minted in Birmingham, England, by William Lutwyche. Although it also features a portrait of George Washington, in a military coat, facing left, it is an undated and undenominated piece.
There are two different types of Liberty and Security Tokens and several variations of each making for approximately seven distinct different Tokens. The first token, designed by Thomas Wyon, is undated and features a military bust of George Washington, facing right.
Much like the Washington Cents of 1791 and 1792, the Getz Patterns were struck by an outside contractor in hopes of establishing themselves as the possible official coinage of the new American Government. Robert Morris, head of the United States Senate Committee on coinage, hired engraver Peter Getz to strike coinage to his specifications.
A popular Washington Colonial Token is the “Double-Head” Token. This copper token is undated but even though it was struck in the 1820 – the 1840s, it is collected with colonial coins.
The 1609 Royal Charter allowed the Colony of Virginia to mint coinage for their uses. After 160 years, the Virginia Assembly authorized the striking of a Halfpenny in 1773 from the Tower of London Mint.
