1776 (ca. 1867) Jackson Bust / Libertas Americana Muling. By John Adams Bolen. Musante JAB M-6. Copper. Marked "B 5" on Edge. MS-64 BN (PCGS).25.4 mm. 163.7 grains. Deep blue and violet iridescence is fairly evenly distributed throughout the prooflike fields of both sides. Sharply struck on a thick flan, with a partial high wire rim. A single thin scratch is noted in the obverse field, and there is a tiny nick in the rim nearby, but these are the only marks worthy of mention. They probably relate to this piece having been pried from Bolens custom board where it was tightly fit. Though the dies are believed to have been cut in 1867, this muling was not mentioned in the June 1868 AJN listing, a clear oversight because it was noted to have been in a set shared with the ANS by Major Charles P. Nichols, in the March 1868 edition. Just five are believed to have been struck, all in copper. This is the only one we recall having seen and Musante noted no auction appearances of any kind. Obviously extremely rare and a critical piece to complete the Bolen series.From the Martin Logies Collection. Earlier ex personal reference collection of John Adams Bolen; our sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection, Part III, November 2021 Baltimore Auction, lot 10255.
