Undated (ca. 1867) Thomas Jefferson / Libertas Americana Muling. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB M-5. Copper. Edge Marked B 5. MS-66+ BN (PCGS).25.4 mm. 161.5 grains. Another lovely medal from this extremely rare set of Bolen mulings, and perfectly matched to the two others from Bolens personal set offered here. Intense blue, violet and green iridescence on both sides with traces of soft orange red remaining in places. Boldly struck on a thick flan, with sharp rims and prooflike fields. Only a couple of trivial marks are noted. Reported to have been struck in silver to the tune of a single specimen in the 1868 <em>AJN</em> listing, with none in copper mentioned. However, the copper impressions of six mules in the series, including this, were mentioned in the March 1868 edition. Johnson reported five struck in copper, in 1882, probably working from this specific medal, bearing its 5 edge mark. Struck from the Jefferson die in its earliest observed die state, with a fine die line passing through the O of JEFFERSON, allowing us more reasons than one to unhesitatingly declare this a Bolen original. A set in silver, copper, brass and white metal was offered in the 1882 Bushnell sale, as lot 1850.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier from the personal reference collection of John Adams Bolen; our sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection, November 2021 Baltimore Auction, lot 10254; our sale of the Martin Logies Collection, Spring 2023 Auction, March, lot 2075.
