The First George Washington Tokens Were Struck in England
One of the first George Washington tokens was the Georgius Triumpho Token dated 1783. These tokens were struck for use in America as the fledgling American government had not yet created a US Mint to solve their coin shortage problem. Most of this series of tokens were made in England and they have been attributed to a few makers in Birmingham. They were then shipped to America for use as temporary coinage or as a tribute to General (and later President) George Washington.
These Georgius Triumpho tokens are the only tokens that we actually know did circulate in the Colonies at that time. A number of these tokens were over-struck with the dies of other colonial copper coins. Several New Jersey coppers struck in 1785 used the Georgius Triumpho token as the “host coin” and were struck right over the original token.
The obverse of the Georgius Triumpho token displays the head of George Washington, facing right, a laurel wreath on his head, the words “GEORGIUS” and “TRIUMPHO” behind and in front of the head respectively.
The reverse has a female figure representing Miss Liberty, facing left, with an olive branch in her left hand and a pole with Liberty Cap in her right. Liberty stands in front of a gate with 13 columns on it, representing the Colonies and a fleur-de-lis adorns the gate, symbolizing the aid of the French to Americans during the just-finished Revolutionary War. Inscribed at the side peripheries is “VOCE” and “POPOLI” meaning “Voice of the People” and the date “1783” in exergue at the bottom.
These tokens are highly collectible and while some are worn from circulation many are in choice Mint State condition.
| Date | Type | Mintage | Fine Value | AU Value |
| 1783 | Georgius Triumpho | Unknown | $275 | 1,250 |
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