1862 U.S. Arsenal, Without Sun / Young America muling. Dies by J.A. Bolen. Musante JAB M/E-3. Brass. MS-64 (PCGS).

27.9 mm. 140.3 grains. Pale greenish gold brass with soft golden brown accents over the mildly prooflike surfaces. Trivial spotting from an ancient fingerprint is noted under magnification. Nicely struck and visually pleasing overall. A very rare muling, for which Musante gives no suggestions as to mintage. A review of our archives suggest that the rarity is probably on par with JAB M/E-5, which George Mason is credited with having struck six of in each of three compositions, Copper, Brass and Tin. Like the M/E-5, this obverse is seen in two states in this pairing, one early and one late, the later one with prominent chips and anomalies inside the rim. We suspect that the earlier-state pieces, like this one, are by Mason, and the later state examples are by Edwards, but this is just conjecture based on our observations and what little is known with certainty. Both dies were cut by Bolen in 1862 and apparently sold by him to George Mason in short order. Edwin Johnson's 1882 listing does not include any mulings using this obverse die as by Bolen, yet the first example of this muling that Musante traced was in Woodward's Finotti sale, in November 1862. It would seem that the dies were sold shortly after they were cut and used for the intended medals, and that Mason had mulings struck very quickly thereafter for the trade. Board Position: A 2/3

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.