Medals
1865-Dated Maximum 10 Struck "J.A. Bolen" Medal in White Metal Die Sinker and Medalist PCGS Certified MS-61
1865-Dated Civil War Period, J.A. Bolen "Die Sinker and Medalist", Springfield, Mass., JAB-17, Struck in White Metal, PCGS graded Mint State-61.
27.8 mm. 132.2 grains. This popular medal has bright and lustrous surfaces exhibit nearly full brilliance, though the reverse is slightly toned. Scattered nicks, marks and hairlines are largely concentrated on the reverse, but the overall eye appeal is fairly pleasant for a white metal impression. This major type was not included in the Q. David Bowers Collection in any metal, while the Musante Collection included one example in white metal, as here. It is a quite rare piece in any composition. John Bolen is famous in numismatic circles for the high-quality copies he produced of rare U.S. Colonial coins. At most 10 were struck. Only three have appeared at auction.
The annotated Bolen notebook gives the mintages (prior to destruction of the dies) as 10 in copper and six in tin, while the Johnson list gives the mintage as 10 in each metal. However, both the 1868 AJN listing and Johnson's list note that the dies were destroyed, but Johnson also adds the note that the dies were destroyed along with "all obtainable impressions," so the number extant is probably very few indeed. Only three have appeared at auction. There is a copper one which bears Bolen's edge marking, "B 10 IN COPPER" in the ANS.
KEYWORDS:
American Numismatic Medal