Undated (ca. 1864) Washington Letter to Hamilton Medal by J.A. Bolen. Silver. 59.0 mm. 1194.2 grains. Musante GW-675, Musante JAB-11, Baker-257. SP-62 (PCGS). A lovely example of one of the most prized of all Bolen pieces, struck in the most desired and rare of the three compositions. Deeply and exquisitely toned with areas of rich violet and blue-green iridescence. A few hairlines in the prooflike fields and scattered surface marks, all diminished in effect by the handsome and deep patina. A very rare medal, Bolens only large format medal and easily a favorite of this writer for both overall styling and theme. According to Musante, the portrait of Washington here was originally rendered by Nathanial Fullerton in 1776, which inspired an engraving by G.G. Smith from which the Bolen engraving was taken.It was reported by Bolen that just five examples were struck in silver. The dies seem to have been sold to Dr. Edwards shortly after preparation and before Bolen struck any examples from them, this being the suggestion of two separate contemporary sources, including Bolen himself. Edward Cogan owned the dies later but they were reported in a 1905 account by Bolen to have been "ruined by rust." In cataloging the MacKenzie Collection in 1869, Cogan wrote that eight had been struck in silver, and as Musante had accounted for six in his study, it is believed that eight is the correct number of silver examples produced. We are also aware of six medals in silver. One of these is at the ANS, and we await confirmation that another of our six is at MHS, which would leave just four in private hands that we know of. We have handled all four of them, with the most recent being William Spohn Bakers personal example in November 2019. It set a new record for the issue at $21,000. The prices realized in that sale were frequently astronomical, but in this particular case the price was probably within reason. The inferior (to Baker) Garrett specimen brought $14,400 in our August 2018 sale.A prize among Bolens pieces that also commands the attention of collectors of Washington medals. As for the theme, the words of the reverse might have served to make several different political appeals at the time of the Civil War, when the piece was executed. Just the same, many would do well to consider Washingtons advice today. From our sale (Bowers and Ruddy) of the Stanley Scott Collection, June 1975, lot 511 (part); Q. David Bowers, our sale of February 2014, lot 123; Anthony Terranova; our sale of the Eagle Hill Collection, August 2016, lot 1080.
