"1787" Bronze Token Indian/Excelsior, JAB-M11

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,160 MS66BN 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This bronze token bearing the date "1787" is a numismatic restrike or fantasy piece produced by John Adams Bolen, cataloged as JAB-M11 in the Musante reference for Bolen's work. The obverse depicts an Indian head facing left in a style reminiscent of the colonial-era Excelsior coppers struck in New York, while the reverse carries the Excelsior motto and New York state arms device. Bolen, a Springfield, Massachusetts die sinker active from the late 1850s through the 1870s, created numerous copies and fantasies of colonial and early American coins, always working from his own hand-cut dies rather than using original equipment. His products were sold openly to collectors of the era who desired examples of rare colonial types they could not otherwise afford. The Indian/Excelsior design references the 1787 Excelsior coppers authorized by the State of New York, which featured the state arms on one side and an eagle on a globe or other patriotic device on the other. Bolen's interpretation combines elements from multiple colonial types into a single muling. The piece is struck in bronze on a planchet consistent with Bolen's typical working methods. JAB-M11 designates this as the eleventh entry in the mule series of Bolen's catalog, distinguishing it from his copies (C-series) and originals (O-series).

Rarity Notes

Bolen produced limited quantities of each die combination, typically between 25 and 50 pieces in each metal. Bronze examples of JAB-M11 are scarce but appear at auction periodically.

Cross References

PCGS #899224; JAB-M11 (Musante-Bolen reference); related to 1787 Excelsior coppers