From our member Dave Reineri

This appears to be MT241, according to the text and photo in Kuethe.  However, in the article  “The Martinka Magic Tokens”, Heyl, Edgar, and Kuethe, F. William, TAMS Journal, Vol. 9 No. 5 (reprinted in the Heyl auction catalog), the token description says there are 35 stars.  Although the article photo is blurred, it appears to be accurate. Furthermore, it stated that the legend reads ‘Died 14, 1799’.  Was ‘Dec’ left out or is this a typo?  I would be interested in hearing if  anyone has an example with 35 stars.  Are there two varieties? 

While Martinka may have used only the 35-star variety, I believe the 38-star variety may have been the manufacturer’s original intent for the following reason:

As well as an MT, this is also known as Kenny #178 for those collecting Washington pieces.  It’s often referred to as a probable centennial piece of Washington’s death.  The border of 38 stars would equate to Colorado, the 38^th state that entered the Union in 1876.  In the beginning of 1889, the year of Washington’s Inauguration Centennial, there were still 38 states until November 2 (North Dakota, South Dakota) November 8 (Montana) and November 11 (Washington).  In 1899 there were 45 states.  Could it have been an Inaugural commemorative?  What would 35 stars represent?