Owner Comments:
Pictured above is a Washington Draped Bust Plain Edged Copper Restrike, designated Vlack 14J, and graded Proof 64 BN by PCGS. Although the coin is dated 1783, groundbreaking research by George Fuld, indicates it may have been struck much later, possibly between 1820 and 1848. Among the several reasons given for this conclusion are: 1) 1783 was the year when the Revolutionary War ended, and the date on the piece might simply be a commemoration of this event; 2) certain design elements such as the border denticles, and corded/engrailed edges, were not yet in vogue; 3) Fuld noticed similarities between the Washington Bust and the Wellington Tokens, circa 1815; 4) a Draped Bust overstrike was found on an English token that did not first appear until 1802-1823; and 5)The initials "T.W.I." appear on the reverse of many of these pieces, as do the initials "E.S." The T.W.I. is widely believed to refer to Thomas Wells Ingram, who served as an engraver and die sinker at the Solo Mint in Birmingham, England between the years 1820 and 1848 when the plant closed. He had once worked with Boulton as a token manufacturer. Similarly, a small initial "I" for Ingram appears in the toga above the right side of the 3 in 1783 on the obverse. The E.S. on the reverse refers to Edward Savage, an artist, who painted the portrait of George Washington for Harvard, used as a model for the Washington Draped Bust pieces.
This copper, featuring the top of a toga draped on Washington's shoulder, and exhibiting the peripheral language "Washington And Independence", came in 2 main types, one with a button in the folds in front of the toga, and the other without. Those without the button display the obverse initial "I" referred to above. The peripheral lettering is larger than exhibited on the buttoned type.
The reverse essentially shares the same design as that seen on the 1783 Military Bust Tokens. The Liberty figure sits on a rock surrounded by water. In the case of button specimens, the rock is box shaped, and contains the initials T.W.I. and E.S. below, on all but one die. Liberty's right hand holds an olive branch, while her left holds a staff with liberty cap on top.
After the close of the Soho Mint, William Joseph Tayler acquired several hubs and dies which he then used to produce working dies for restrike proof Washington Draped Bust Coppers between the years 1850 and 1860. The pieces were marketed by W.S. Lincoln, a London dealer and entrepreneur, who is also known to have minted his own restrikes with a larger 3 in the date 1783.
In addition to bronze/copper emissions, the originals and restrikes were struck in silver, some with engrailed/corded edges. The obverse was muled with a kangaroo reverse for the first world's fair held in London in 1851.