1787 (ca. 1869) George Clinton / Eagle on Globe Muling. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB M-13, Kenney-12, W-14560. Copper. VF-35 (NGC).26.9 mm. Uniform and smooth medium brown copper with a couple of trivial reverse scratches that seem very old, and a bit of natural surface grime in some of the recesses. In effect, the wear seen here looks natural in every way, as an old coin that long circulated. But, as this was struck decades after any such thing could have traveled in circulation, it is clear that the wear was either as a pocket piece, or intentionally applied to make this resemble a colonial era product of great value (a testament to Bolens skill as an engraver). In either case, the piece has a pleasantly natural appearance and is extremely rare. According to Musante, the dies were cut in 1869, but by October 1870 they had been defaced and given to the Boston Numismatic Society. As such, the few struck were all by Bolen. Musante found no examples to illustrate the type, and used a composite image instead. This appeared at auction a dozen years after Musante published; the only additional one we have seen is Bolens personal example, an exquisite red and brown Gem that appeared in our November 2021 sale. Though the centering is a bit off, this seems to be an earlier die state than Bolens own.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier ex Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society; Heritages sale of the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part XI, November 2018, lot 15511.
