1866 Springfield Antiquarians Medal. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB-23. Copper. MS-64 RB (NGC).27.8 mm. Soft violet iridescence over much of the obverse while broad outlines of pale rose-red frame the design features of the obverse. The reverse is a bit more red due to the better protected fields. Sharply struck on a flan of medium thickness, and just a few minor handling marks and tiny spots. Though attributed as a circa 1872 Kline restrike on the grading holder, there is no distinguishing feature known to us for such a determination. It has been held for some time that thicker flan pieces were Bolen originals (and this is thicker than another sold alongside it in our November 2017 sale), but we know that is not accurate from the study of many pieces, including many of Bolens own reference medals. There is no clear advancement of die state evident that would suggest a later impression here. In fact, it is an earlier state than the more likely Kline impression in the next lot.<p>An interesting issue that celebrates Bolen and a small group of his local peers as collectors. The first of his contemporaries named on the medal is James Parker, whose collection was cataloged for sale by Edward Cogan in 1874. Parker and W. Elliot Woodward are occasionally named as buyers of Bolens silver pieces when only two were reported struck, and Parkers collection contained numerous Bolen issues. His example of the Antiquarians medal was copper, as here. Both Bolens annotated notebook and the 1882 Johnson listing give the original mintage in copper as 14 pieces.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier ex Henry South; our sale of the Tim Gabriele Collection, November 2017 Baltimore Collection, lot 234.
