"1783" (1860) Washington Draped Bust Copper. Restrike. Musante GW-107, Baker-3, var., Vlack 17-L, W-Unlisted. Copper. Plain Edge. Proof-64 BN (PCGS).

A scarcer variety of this popular restrike, neither the Baker nor Whitman references include attributions for plain edge strikings from the Vlack 17-L dies. This piece does exhibit bronzed surfaces, as described for W-10370, although the edge style for that attribution is not given in the Whitman reference. Both sides exhibit beautiful deep orange-copper patina with a subtle mingling of olive highlights. Fully struck with an overall smooth satin texture, one or two tiny marks are all that seem to preclude a full Gem grade. According to Neil Musante in the 2016 reference Medallic Washington, Volume I, examples of this type were issued by Australian medalist W.J. Taylor from dies prepared circa 1860 using the original device punches.