Undated (ca. 1865) Abraham Lincoln / With Malice Toward None Medal. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB-20, Cunningham 29-010C, King-866. Copper. MS-64 BN PL (NGC).25 mm. A striking example of this popular Lincoln medal with rich and uniform mahogany-brown surfaces and intense prooflike reflectivity on both sides. Some trivial spotting is noted at the lower reverse but easily forgiven considering the overall quality and eye appeal. A tiny rim cud is noted at 6 oclock on the obverse. Struck from a fairly early state of the dies, without the heavy reverse breaks that generally are thought to mark the restrikes produced by J.W. Kline after his 1872 purchase of the dies from Bolen. Faint hairline cracks have just begun to form from the W in WITH to the A of MALICE, and from the M of the same word to the A of TOWARD. In 1878, John Haseltine reported that the dies had been destroyed.<p>Bolens annotated notebook indicated 10 in copper, 40 in tin and one in brass, as does the 1868 <em>AJN</em> list. When Johnson published his list in 1882, he listed three in silver, 40 in brass and 10 in copper. As Musante points out, the 10 in copper is in agreement both places and probably reliable for original impressions by Bolen. Brass seems to be unique, and we have never seen one in silver. Bolens personal copper specimen was in our November 2021 sale, noting 10 COPPER on the edge.From the Claremont Collection.
