(c.1864) Medal JAB-M/E 11 Copper Small Star Confederatio

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,140 MS66BN 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This circa 1864 copper medal is cataloged as JAB-M/E 11, the copper version of Bolen's "Small Star Confederatio" experimental muling. Copper was the most natural medium for a piece referencing the original Confederatio coppers of the 1780s, as those historic coins were themselves struck in copper. Bolen's attention to this connection between composition and historical reference shows his sophisticated understanding of numismatic context. The Confederatio series of the 1780s represented an early attempt at a national coinage before the establishment of the United States Mint, making them subjects of enduring fascination for collectors and historians. Bolen's interpretations of these designs brought attention to early American numismatic history during a period when systematic study of colonial and confederation-era coins was still in its infancy.

Rarity Notes

JAB-M/E 11, copper. Confederatio reference piece. Copper is the historically appropriate composition. Very limited mintage.

Cross References

PCGS #887233; JAB-M/E 11; Small Star Confederatio, Copper