1783 Washington & Independence, NGC PF62 BN CAC. 3-5 specimens known. Ex-Brand. Ex-Ford 5/04. This 1783 Washington & Independence cent sized proof token is light brown with touches of greenish grey. There are three or four fly specks on the obverse and a few on the reverse which probably keep the coin from a higher mint state grade. The strike is full on both sides. A rather prominent die break is seen through the 83 from rim to rim.

The obverse shows a draped bust of George Washington facing left crowned with a laurel wreath. Surrounding are the words WASHINGTON & INDEPENDENCE above the date. The reverse shows a plump full figure of Liberty facing left seated on a rock. In her right hand she holds up an olive branch. In her left rests a large pole at the top of which is a Phrygian cap. The Phrygian cap was a symbol of a slave’s emancipation in Roman times. It is used frequently to symbolize liberty in early American coinage.

The provenance of the piece is known. It was in the famous collections of both Virgil Brand and John Ford. The NGC population report shows 2 in PF62BN with 4 better.