"Ugly" Head

About This Coin

Named for its unflattering portrait of George Washington that departs markedly from the idealized depictions found on most Washington pieces, the "Ugly" Head copper token belongs to the diverse family of Washington-themed tokens and medals that proliferated in the 1780s and 1790s. The portrait — crude by comparison to contemporary engraving standards — features a Washington bust with exaggerated or poorly proportioned facial features that earned the "ugly" designation from nineteenth-century catalogers, though whether the portrait was intentionally satirical or simply the product of an unskilled engraver remains a matter of scholarly debate. Measuring 28 mm in diameter with a plain edge, these copper tokens conform to the approximate size and weight of a British halfpenny, placing them within the circulating medium that served American commerce before the United States Mint established reliable cent production. The designer remains unattributed, though the die-cutting style and manufacturing characteristics suggest British production — consistent with the Birmingham and London workshops that dominated the Anglo-American token trade during this period. The "Ugly" Head variety appears in the Baker catalog of Washington medals and tokens, where its distinct portrait style separates it from the more refined Draped Bust, Military Bust, and other named Washington portrait types. Despite — or perhaps because of — its unconventional portrait, the "Ugly" Head has developed a dedicated following among Washington series specialists who appreciate its character and its illustration of the wide range of artistic quality found across the privately produced Washington token landscape. Grading focuses on the definition retained in the portrait features, the sharpness of the reverse design, and the overall surface quality of the copper, with most surviving specimens showing moderate to heavy circulation wear.