Washington Liberty and Security Series: Introduction

Washington Liberty and Security Series

Larger "Penny" size token

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

undated        Baker 30                       Liberty and Security "Penny" Token

Obverse:   GEORGE     WASHINGTON .
Reverse:  LIBERTY   AND   SECURITY
Edge: AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESS'D OF ALL NATIONS   ::   :   ::
[click here for samples from the edge, sample 1 and sample 2]

Weight:  304.3 g   (19.72 grams)                  Diameter:  33.25 mm            Reverse die alignment: 180°

Comments:   Listed as WA.1795.2 by Fuld and by Dalton and Hamer as, Middlesex, Penny section, Washington Series, no. 243. This example was removed from a PCGS slab (767.50/4746226) where it was graded as AU50. There are several rim dings present. As stated in the introduction this larger size token was designed by Thomas Wyon and struck by Peter Kempson in Birmingham by 1795. It predates the "halfcent," which was modeled on this piece. There are several small die cracks present. Most notably on the obverse there is a small line on the inside of the bottom curve of the S in WASHINGTON and on the reverse there are two small dots at the upper left corner of the shield.

Provenance:  Acquired through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from EAHA auction of January 17, 1998, lot 91.

Smaller "Halfpenny" size token

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

1795        Baker 31B                       Liberty and Security "halfpenny" Token

Obverse:   GEORGE WASHINGTON
Reverse:  LIBERTY   AND   SECURITY   17  95
Edge: BIRMINGHAM   REDRUTH   &   SWANSEA
[click here for samples from the edge, sample 1 and sample 2]

Weight:  123.0 g   (7.97 grams)                  Diameter:  28.83 mm            Reverse die alignment: 150°

Comments:   Listed as WA.1795.1b by Fuld and by Dalton and Hamer as, Middlesex, Political and Social Series, no. 1052. There is an extensive die crack on the reverse extending from the rim above the Y in LIBERTY continuing through the eagle's wings and head and through the letters ECU in SECURITY and ending at the rim above the letter R. There is also a planchet void in the lower right portion of the shield. On the lettered edge following the legend are the planetary symbols for the Sun, Mercury, Saturn, Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mars, but on this example the edge is thin at that point and none are present. Fuld estimates 35-40 specimens are known.

Provenance:  Acquired through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from EANA auction of November 16, 1996, lot 106.

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

1795        Baker 31M                    Irish Halfpenny with Liberty and Security reverse

Obverse:   . IRISH     HALFPENNY .   [in exergue] 1795
Reverse:  LIBERTY   AND   SECURITY   17  95
Edge: PAYABLE AT LONDON     LIVERPOOL OR BRISTOL
[click here for samples from the edge, sample 1 and sample 2]

Weight:  123.2 g   (7.98 grams)                  Diameter:  29.23 mm            Reverse die alignment: 160°

Comments:   Listed as WA.1795.M1 by Fuld and by Dalton and Hamer in the Irish section as Dublin, no. 9 (on p. 460). This is a mule consisting of the obverse of an Irish halfpenny obverse and the reverse from the 1795 Liberty and Security halfpenny token, minted by William Lutwyche in Birmingham. These mules are usually weakly struck, rarely showing much central detail. This example is somewhat better than usual. The obverse depicts Hope leaning on an anchor with the date below. The reverse shows the standard Liberty and Security halfpenny eagle and shield with date. Unfortunately this example has several small scratches. A buckeling of the reverse die can be seen from the S in SECURITY, diagonally down through the shield to the 7 in the date. The strike is particularly weak along the upper half of the diagonal, especially at the arrows and some of the stars. This reverse die is similar but not the same die as used on the Liberty and Security halfpenny shown above (note that it does not have the same die cracks). Because of these British token mules numismatists long ago realized several of the Washington tokens had been minted in Britain.

Provenance:  Acquired through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from EAHA auction of January 17, 1998, lot 89.

Ship Halfpenny	Section Contents	Grate Halfpenny