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(1864) Silver Token GW-733, Charles K. Warner

Strike Type

Coin Details

Denomination

Medals

Strike Type

Regular Strike

Series

George Washington Medals

Composition

Silver

Auction Record

$1,320 MS65 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver token cataloged as GW-733 was issued circa 1864 by Charles K. Warner, the premium silver version of his Washington-themed business token. The silver composition elevates this from a standard commercial token to a collector's piece, as the precious metal content significantly increased production cost and limited the number struck. Warner produced tokens in multiple metals to appeal to collectors at different price points, a common practice among numismatic entrepreneurs of the Civil War era. Silver tokens from this period are substantially rarer than their brass or copper counterparts and command significant premiums in the numismatic market. The GW-733 catalog number indicates this is a distinct die variety from the brass GW-729 (PCGS #909507), indicating Warner commissioned separate dies for different metal compositions or issued revised designs over time.