Undated (ca. 1875) Jefferson / Jefferson Insurance Company Store Card. Musante JAB K-13. White Metal. AU-58 (PCGS).

25.4 mm. 88.4 grains. Mostly brilliant light pewter gray with soft gray mellowing in the fields. Bright lustrous areas outline the obverse motifs and extend through the reverse fields. A bit handled, with a few tiny reverse pesting spots, but still with nice eye appeal for the grade. An interesting piece that was struck close in time to the brass example of K-1 offered above, but well before the copper and white metal pieces of that variety, and the single example of K-2 offered. It is from the Jefferson obverse in the early state, prior to the formation of the rim break at 5:00. This variety was missing from the Bowers Collection in 2011, as well as from the Musante Collection in 2014. In fact, we have no appearances at all in our online archives covering the better part of 15 years. Perhaps even more telling is the fact that Musante was unable to find an example to image for his book and was forced to resort to a composite image instead. It is unknown how many may have been struck, but it is certain that it was very few indeed. Musante reported only a single auction appearance known to him, in the May 1884 Woodward sale. An important, perhaps even essential, piece for anyone hoping to complete the Bolen catalog.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.