(c.1881) Medal JAB-39 Copper Pynchon House MA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 MS62BN 06-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This circa 1881 copper striking of JAB-39 by John Adams Bolen depicts the historic Pynchon House of Springfield, Massachusetts. The copper version provides excellent detail definition of the architectural elements Bolen engraved, including the building's colonial-era construction features and the surrounding landscape. Copper was Bolen's workhorse metal — affordable enough for moderate production runs yet hard enough to capture fine die details with precision. William Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and established the trading post that would become Springfield six years later. His family's house became a center of civic and commercial life in the Connecticut River Valley. Bolen, who spent his entire adult life in Springfield, would have known the history of the Pynchon family intimately, and this medal reflects his deep engagement with the heritage of his adopted city. The copper version of JAB-39 develops a rich brown patina over time that enhances the visual impact of Bolen's engraving. Collectors of Bolen's work prize these copper strikings as the ideal balance between affordability and artistic quality, and they form the backbone of most Bolen medal collections.

Rarity Notes

Bolen copper strikings typically number 20-50 pieces. JAB-39 in copper is scarce but obtainable with patience.

Cross References

PCGS #932827; JAB-39 (Copper)