1866 Eagle and Shield / Lexington and Baltimore or "Historical" Medal. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB-22. Copper. MS-65 BN (NGC).28 mm. Light mahogany-brown with generous faded red outlines accentuating the motifs. Blushes of pale blue-green are noted in the somewhat reflective in the fields, especially on the obverse. Boldly struck twice, with an obvious rotation of the hammer die (the reverse) in between impressions, with dramatic visual effect. An interesting study piece and one of those rare pieces that shows the process of the maker to a degree. It is believed that just 14 were struck by Bolen in copper. His reference specimen bearing his edge marks (including this mintage figure) is in the ANS, having been sold out of his personal collection boards by his granddaughter in 1948. Musante described that specimen as brass, with an erroneous COPPER edge marking. The dies were sold by Bolen to Kline in 1872. The obverse most recently appeared in our (Stacks) October 2010 Americana sale.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier ex Henry South; our sale of the Tim Gabriele Collection, November 2017 Baltimore Auction, lot 232.
