1864 John Adams Bolen Store Card. Musante JAB-12, Fuld-760A-7a. Copper. MS-64 RB (NGC).27.8 mm, 160 grains. Soft blue, violet and rose mottling over faded red on the obverse while the reverse exhibits gold, blue and rose. Nicely struck and pleasantly prooflike creating a bit of a cameo contrast on the obverse. Very attractive and rare. Just 25 are reported to have been struck, as noted in Bolens annotated notebook, the 1868 <em>AJN</em> listing, and the Johnson listing in 1882. All three sources also note that the dies were destroyed (which must have happened prior to 1868) and the Johnson listing notes that "all obtainable copies" were also destroyed. It is a bit mystifying that advertising tokens so few in number would prompt melting, but they do seem quite rare. Just under 10 examples appear in our archives. We found only one in the Heritage archives and the ANS acquired one from Bolens granddaughter in 1948. The edge numbered medal from Bolens collection (25 STRUCK) was reported in Paul Koppenhavers February 1980 sale. This variety was missing from the extensive E Pluribus Unum Collection.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier ex Donald M. Miller; Charles Litman; Q. David Bowers; our (Stacks) New York Americana Sale of January 2010, lot 6603.
