1737 (1860s) Higley Copper. Bolen Copy. W-14285, Kenney-4, Musante JAB-10. THE VALVE OF THREE PENCE / CONNECTICVT, 3 Hammers. Silver. MS-65 (PCGS). The finest certified striking from these dies in silver that we have handled in recent memory. It is a richly original Gem example with delightful toning in champagne-pink iridescence that yields to warmer olive-russet at the borders. Just a tad softly struck here and there around the peripheries, yet sharp elsewhere, with full luster in a bright, frosty texture. According to Neil Musante (<em>The Medallic Works of John Adams Bolen</em>, 2002), just two examples of this type were struck in silver by Bolen, but the dies were sold by him to Dr. Frank Smith Edwards shortly after they were cut in 1864. Although it is believed that Edwards made some additional impressions, the number appears to have been limited as these are still very rare in silver. In his cataloging for our (Stacks) Ford XIV Sale, Michael Hodder knew of four examples in this metal, and Ford owned three. A fourth and fifth appeared in several of our sales from 2014 to 2020, and the present Gem is a sixth. An intriguing and elusive type that is always in demand among specialists. PCGS# 535246.
