1867 John Adams Bolen Store Card / Libertas Americana Muling. Musante JAB-30. Brass. MS-64 (PCGS).25.4 mm. Light golden-olive brass with pleasing prooflike character creating a nice cameo effect, especially on the Bolen card side. A small oxidation spot at the rim below the date is the only flaw worthy of note. Well struck as usual on a fairly thick flan and with very satisfying eye appeal.<p>Until the revelation of the cache of Bolens personal medals in our November 2021 sale, it was believed that this medal might be the unique one identified in the Bolen records, the <em>AJN</em> and the 1882 Johnson listing. When Bolens personal specimen was revealed, with his distinctive edge marking, B 1 IN BRASS, it became clear that the reporting was in error, but the number produced was certainly still very small, indeed. We have seen only three in brass.<p>As mentioned in the 1868 <em>AJN</em> listing, Bolen did not maintain an inventory of his medals for sale, and would strike them upon request. This is probably the reason that so many cases appear where published mintages do not match reality as, inevitably, an order would arrive after a number was published. This is probably the case with this issue in brass. It cant be disputed, however, that this was initially intended to be unique in this metal, so again, it is likely that the number of additional pieces struck was very small. It is worth mentioning that any additional impressions in any metal are from Bolens shop. He sold the Libertas die to Kline in 1872, but he destroyed his own 1867-dated portrait die, so no one else could have produced examples of JAB-30, at any time.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier ex Q. David Bowers; our sale of the Tim Gabriele Collection, November 2017 Baltimore Auction, lot 244; our sale of the Martin Logies Collection, Spring 2023 Auction, March, lot 2063.
