Undated Washington Success Medal - Large Reeded Edge

Coin Details

Description

Distinguished from the plain-edge variety by its reeded edge treatment, this undated large-format Washington Success medal is cataloged as Baker 266, Musante GW-42, and Whitman 10900. The reeded edge — vertical grooves applied to the coin's circumference — adds a distinctive tactile element and may indicate a different manufacturing run or an intended dual function as both a commemorative medal and a circulating token, as reeded edges were more commonly associated with coins intended for commercial use than with purely commemorative pieces. The obverse presents Washington's bust with the SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES legend, celebrating the American republic's survival and prosperity under its first president, while the reverse features an eagle design consistent with the patriotic iconography standard on Washington-themed tokens and medals of the period. The large format of approximately 34 mm provides substantial surface area for design detail, making these pieces more visually impressive than their small-format counterparts. Struck in England, likely at the Birmingham or London facilities that dominated the Anglo-American token trade, the large reeded-edge Success medal represents the premium end of the Success medal production spectrum. Scarce and less common than the plain-edge variety for the large size, the reeded-edge version is sought by Washington medal specialists who pursue complete edge-variant sets within the Success medal series, and the additional manufacturing step required for edge reeding suggests intentional production differentiation aimed at the collector or premium token market.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Reeded edge is less common than plain edge for the large size.

Cross References

Baker 266; Musante GW-42; Whitman 10900