Undated (ca. 1868) Grant / Our Next President medal by J.A. Bolen. Musante JAB-32. White Metal. MS-62 (PCGS).

25.5 mm. 92.1 grains. Mostly brilliant and prooflike, with the usual handling marks and hairlines in the fields seen on white metal Bolen issues. The annotated Bolen notebook gives no mintages for this issue, suggesting that perhaps the dies were cut or planned, but that no mintage had been finalized. In 1882, Johnson reported just a single piece in white metal, and Bolen donated one example in this composition to the ANS in 1869. The ANS piece would have certainly been from his shop, so perhaps this one was added back into this collection later. This would explain the handled appearance of this (and certain other unmarked white metal pieces offered here). Clearly the most common of the compositions, Musante has estimated that perhaps as many as 40 were struck by John W. Kline. Board Position: B 3/6

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.