1783 Restrike Copper - 1783 Washington Draped Bust, Engrailed Edge, Copper Restrike, PCGS PR64BN, CAC. In its population report, as of March 2014, CAC shows 6 1783 Draped Bust Washington pieces with engrailed edge confirmed at the near-Gem PR64BN grade level.

This near-Gem proof 1783 copper token is an early American piece that depicts George Washington. Mint red highlights are still evident especially so on the reverse. The remainder is a mixture of light and darker red-brown on glossy, hard surfaces. Abrasion marks are invisible without the aid of magnification, and the strike is strong. Full details are present on Washingtons laurel wreath, his features, the central portion of the seated Liberty figure and the legends on both sides. The CAC sticker tells us that the token is a premium quality piece that fully deserves the assigned grade.

The tokens obverse depicts a left-facing profile of Washington with drapery wearing a laurel wreath, symbol of martial victory. Ancient Romans used laurels to crown a successful commander during his triumph. The legend is WASHINGTON & INDEPENDENCE with the date below. The reverse shows a draped seated figure of Liberty facing left at a shore with a horizon line behind her. She is holding a sprig in her right hand. In her left hand she holds a long pole on the end of which is a Phrygian cap, which is also a symbol of liberty. The legend UNITED STATES is above.

Many Washington pieces were dated from 1783 to 1795. A number of them were minted in Birmingham, England and were first used as patterns for proposed coinage. The year 1783 is significant because it was the date of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War and the disbanding of Washingtons Continental Army.

Washington was opposed to having his portrait or any living person on an American coin. He also resisted contract coinage and felt that the United States could and should produce its own coins for circulation.

In 1848, a British coin dealer, W.J. Taylor of Holborn, London purchased scrap from the Soho Mint, which had recently closed. Included in the purchase were hubs, device punches, and working dies including hubs for the Draped Bust Washington pieces. He made dies from these hubs and restruck the token, some with plain edges and some with ornamented edges such as on the present piece. Researchers believe that these were struck in 1860.