Among Washington-related medals and tokens collected alongside U.S. colonial issues, the undated Washington “Success” pieces often draw attention because their origin and date remain unsettled. They present overtly patriotic imagery, but their period of manufacture is disputed, with theories ranging from the 1790s to later 19th-century production. Collectors generally refer to them as Washington Success Tokens or Washington Success Medals, even though they carry no date and no stated denomination.
They are easily recognizable by their consistent, simple message. The obverse shows a bust portrait facing right with the legend “GEORGE WASHINGTON”. The reverse features the Eye of Providence, surrounded by fifteen stars and long rays, with the legend “SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES”.
Designs and Legends
The obverse portrait is a compact, medallic-style Washington facing right, surrounded by his name. The reverse centers on the Eye of Providence with fifteen rays and fifteen stars; if those 15 stars are meant to represent the 15 states, some infer a 1792–1796 window (although that interpretation is not universally accepted). The message “SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES” conveys a patriotic sentiment. That slogan is one reason the pieces have traditionally been associated with the 1790s, though other researchers have argued for a later 19th-century game-token ( or “spielmarke”) origin.
At the same time, the design’s strength is also a weakness for attribution. The Eye of Providence had already appeared earlier in American iconography and on earlier coin-related pieces, so its use here could reflect contemporary patriotism or later historical reuse.
The Long Debate Over Dating and Origin
The earliest well-known printed discussion dates to the late 19th century. In 1875, Sylvester Crosby mentioned a “curious Washington piece” and reported that Stickney believed it may have been made by Massachusetts diemaker Jacob Perkins, an attribution Crosby did not substantiate and later researchers still treat as unproven.
In 1885, W. S. Baker argued these pieces were made in the United States and linked them to Washington’s second inauguration in 1793. That inauguration theory held considerable influence for many decades.
Later researchers complicated the picture. In 1972, Russell Rulau and George Fuld suggested the Success Tokens might be game counters. Their reasoning was practical: the tokens have no denomination, no date, and their size and weight can resemble counters more than circulating money.
A major push toward a later, non-American style comparison appeared in the 1981 Garrett Sale catalog, where Q. David Bowers suggested the pieces did not resemble typical colonial-era products and instead looked similar to mid-19th-century German spielmarke, or game tokens. Rulau later echoed that uncertainty, describing at least one variety as a later restrike from a recut die and openly wondering whether the pieces first appeared on the numismatic scene in the 19th century.
Walter Breen added a different kind of skepticism. He noted the lack of 1790s records or advertisements and a lack of punch links to contemporary domestic issues. Yet Breen still leaned toward an 18th-century context, arguing the fifteen stars and rays likely referenced the fifteen states and thus would predate Tennessee’s admission on June 1, 1796.
By the late 1990s, the debate remained unresolved. Some authors favored the spielmarke explanation; others kept an 18th-century or very early 19th-century window. Evidence cited for earlier familiarity includes a reference in an 1864 sale that described a piece as made for Washington’s second inauguration and as “long known” in a prominent collection, suggesting the tokens were not brand-new discoveries at that time. Another thread points to an 1843 expense-book entry describing them as “counters,” an especially important clue for those who believe the pieces functioned as gaming items.
Physical Clues: Size, Weight, and Why It Matters
One of the most persuasive arguments against an 18th-century circulating-coin role is weight. The larger Success Token typically weighs about 60 to 80 grains, which is lighter than even many lightweight counterfeit halfpence that circulated in early America. That does not prove a later date, but it does support the “counter” interpretation and raises doubts about intentional use as small change.
The series is known in two main sizes:
- Larger: about 25.4 mm, 60 to 80 grains
- Smaller: about 19.4 mm, 27 to 34 grains
These specifications matter because they steer the discussion away from “coin substitute” and toward “medallic or counter-like object,” even if the tokens were later accepted casually in commerce.
Varieties and Collecting Structure
Collectors encounter the Washington Success tokens as a small but surprisingly detailed set. For the larger token, researchers have identified multiple obverse dies paired with a single reverse die. The large obverses are often distinguished by Washington’s nose shape, including a so-called “Roman nose,” a long, pointed nose, and a very rare “straight nose” variety identified by subtle legend spacing differences.
The larger “Roman nose” obverse is known on different metals and edges, including brass examples with reeded or plain edges and copper with a plain edge. The long, pointed nose obverse appears in brass, again with plain or reeded edges. Many examples of this obverse show a prominent die crack, with scarcer pieces known without it.
The smaller token is generally scarcer than the large size and is found in brass with either plain or reeded edges. Very rare off-metal or special-edge pieces are also reported, including an very rare small copper plain-edge variety, a unique silver scalloped-edge example, and a unique pewter example.
Why the Mystery Persists
The central problem is that the tokens sit between categories. They read like patriotic medals, they share some visual language with earlier American symbols, but they also resemble game counters in format and fabric. Without definitive mint records, advertisements, or convincing die-link evidence to a known maker, the series remains open to interpretation. A British origin, including Birmingham, has been proposed by some commentators, while others still allow for an American origin or at least early American use.
A Collectible with a Story
Regardless of where one stands on the dating question, Washington Success Tokens remain appealing for their national symbolism, distinctive inscription, and the continuing mystery surrounding their production. They are collected for their bold national symbolism and the unresolved questions around their production.
