Undated (ca. 1864) George Washington / Liberty Cap Muling. Dies by George H. Lovett and John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB M/E-16, Musante GW-678, Baker-275A. Copper. MS-63 BN (NGC).28 mm. Golden-brown with rich pastel toning accents over both sides including vivid blue, rose and violet. Traces of pale green are seen around the obverse rim. Satiny devices and highly reflective in the fields, particularly on the Liberty Cap side. One small nick and one small spot left of the Washington portrait. The obverse is double struck, making for an interesting variation, though this is a frequent occurrence among Bolen issues due to the depth he cut many of his dies and the multiple strikes necessary to bring up the designs fully. It is documented that W. Elliot Woodward had George H. Lovett strike the Bar copper copies from Bolens dies. As this medal uses a George Lovett die, it is safe to assume he struck these rare mulings as well (and maybe many other Bolen pieces, after Bolen sold various dies). The only question is who owned the Liberty Cap die at the time and hired Lovett to put his press into action. Known in several metals, but all are very rare. The output was clearly minuscule.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier ex Q. David Bowers; our sale of the Tim Gabriele, November 2017 Baltimore Auction, lot 262.
