Undated (ca. 1878) George Washington Father of our Country / Abraham Lincoln Muling. Dies by John Adams Bolen and Joseph Merriam. Musante JAB W-13, Musante GW-699, Baker-234, Cunningham 29-270C, King-860, DeWitt-AL 1860-45G. Copper. MS-65+ RB (PCGS).27.7 mm. Vivid blue, violet, orange and green cover the obverse while the reverse retains considerable original red complemented by soft violet highlights. A Gem with all the aesthetic appeal one could hope for. Boldly prooflike and superbly preserved. Even still, the matter of quality is but a proverbial cherry on top, as the real prize here is the opportunity to compete for this extremely rare medal. With just "3 estimated" per Musante (but probably one of five as with others in the series - a mintage repeatedly given by Woodward for various copper and white metal issues) there are precious few of these for collectors in any condition. A flurry of appearances included eight offerings between 1879 and 1884 in two metals, but this is the only medal from this pair of dies we have seen in at least two decades. The Lincoln die is bisected by a crack passing through Lincolns face and the die is a bit buckled, indicating a likely final use of that compromised die.From the Claremont Collection. Earlier from the William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897; our Baltimore Auction of November 2019, lot 20510.
