Circa 1829 C. Wolfe, Clark & Spies token. Musante GW-118, Baker-588, Rulau-E NY 958. Brass, Silvered. Reeded Edge. AU-55 (PCGS).25.9 mm. 121.7 grains. Lustrous on the obverse with generous silvering remaining and light golden olive brass otherwise. The reverse is brassy at the rims and into the fields, but there is also some darker patina in the fields around Jacksons portrait and close to the borders. There is very little of the original silvering remaining on this side. A very rare token that is typically found rough. This example is very different from the usual specimen and is easily among the nicest we have seen in a long time. There are no scratches or digs, the surfaces being just gently worn. In the Rulau-Fuld revision, silvering is not mentioned, which is probably due only to the great rarity of the tokens in nice condition. This is the Musante plate.<p><p>As Musante points out, the order of the names on this token do not match the order found in contemporary directories. Baker, Russell Rulau (in his <em>Standard Catalogue of United States Tokens</em>), and Musante have correctly identified this as the first in the series. What seems to have been overlooked is that the die used to strike the medals with the corrected name order is in fact the identical die used for the first issue. The names of the principals were simply repunched over the earlier names in the die. We have gained access to a pair of high-grade specimens from this series from the John J. Ford sale, allowing for detailed study and a revised ordering.<p><p>Though we have elected to maintain the Musante number ordering in the catalog, the proper emission order of the medals appearing in this sale is as follows:<p><p>1.GW-118. C. Wolfe, Clark & Spies<p>2.GW-122. C. Wolfe, Spies & Clark - George IV Muling<p>3.GW-119. C. Wolfe, Spies & Clark - PRESIDENT<p>4.GW-120. C. Wolfe, Spies & Clark - JACKSON<p><p>The first position of the above list is already explained. As for GW-122, it is in the second position based on die state evidence on the obverse. Left of the C of C. WOLFE there had earlier been another "C" lightly impressed. That detail would weaken with use, and its remnants are sharpest in this marriage, placing it first among the three uses of the corrected die. An apparent extension within the C of CLARK is the remnant of the earlier punched S of SPIES. It is short, but in high relief. There are other microscopic details as well, but these are the easiest to detect.<p><p>The third token is GW-119, with the PRESIDENT reverse. The same errant first C element is visible on this piece, but less well developed. The same extension within the C of CLARK is seen here, in identical form. The field area just within the rim over SPIES is smooth and the details are crisply defined under high magnification.<p><p>The fourth token struck was GW-120, with the JACKSON reverse. Here, the definition of the errant first C is the softest, though it can still be detected on high-grade specimens with some ease. The extension within the C of CLARK is now in shallower relief, but longer, this being an apparent extension of the artifact by way of light cracking. This is the only explanation for such a change. The field at the rim and in the area over SPIES is now slightly raised and granular from microscopic spalling and flowlined from wear.<p>Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
