Undated (ca. 1872) Webster / The Able Defender medal. By J.A. Bolen. Silver. Thin Planchet. Musante JAB-29. MS-63 (PCGS). 25.5 mm. 10.1 grams. Deep steel gray toning with areas of lighter silver on the reflective surfaces. Light handling and hairlines account for the grade. Struck on a thin planchet and a slightly later die state than thick planchet impressions we have seen. A small die crack can be seen in the reverse legend connecting the tops of EN in DEFENDER. Likely struck by J.W. Kline, who acquired the dies from Bolen in 1872. Production numbers are unknown in total, but Bolen only reported two struck in silver, while Kline likely made just a few as all are rare. From the Q. David Bowers Collection; our sale of January 2011, lot 6630.
