1864 (C. 1880?) Muling of J.A. Bolen’s Soldier’s Fair and Joseph Merriam’s Parties Supplied at Short Notice dies. Tin. 28mm. Musante JAB W-16. MS-63 (NGC).，Brilliant white metal surfaces with bold prooflike fields and satiny devices. A bit of handling is noted, commensurate with the grade, but only a couple of short scratches below FAIR are worthy of specific mention. Excellent eye appeal and extremely rare. Musante noted two appearances in this composition in Woodward sales 46 (1882) and 69 (1884), which could certainly have been the same example. Called by Musante "the most nonsensical combination in this group," which seems fair, but it causes us to wonder if there was not some utilitarian purpose in such strikings beyond simple commercial interests which would seem to be small for a muling of this nature, in particular.From the Tim Gabriele Collection. Earlier ex Q. David Bowers.
