1794 (ca. 1862) United States Arsenal Medal, With Sun. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB-3. Copper. MS-64 RB (NGC).28 mm. Considerable rich orange-copper color remains on both sides, with the reverse a bit more mellowed than the obverse. Suggestions of prooflike reflectivity are noted in the obverse fields, while the reverse is wholly satiny and lustrous. Trivial patina spots are noted for accuracy but are not distracting. This is a very rare medal. Though the dies are reported to have passed through several hands, any one of them capable of having strikes produced, it would seem that any such efforts were minimal. The 1868 <em>AJN</em> reported just five struck in copper and the same is found in Bolens notebook and the 1882 Johnson listing, though the latter acknowledged possible restrikes. Silver, brass and tin are all noted by Musante, but mintages are either given in single digits or not at all. Appearances suggest very small numbers. We have just four appearances in our archives in any composition (including this example). Heritages archives have only one more. This is easily the finest of the three copper impressions, with far superior color. This number was missing from our 2021 sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier from our sale of the Ralph Edson Collection, Spring 2019 Baltimore Auction, March, lot 38.
