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

Coin Details

Auction Record

$552 MS62 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This circa 1881 silver striking of JAB-39 is the premium-metal version of John Adams Bolen's Pynchon House medal. Rendered in silver, the architectural details of the historic Springfield landmark achieve their fullest expression, with the bright white surface providing maximum contrast for the fine lines of Bolen's engraving. Silver strikings were produced in the smallest quantities of any metal in Bolen's standard repertoire. The Pynchon House held particular importance in the narrative of New England settlement. William Pynchon was not merely a trader and town founder but also an intellectual figure — his 1650 theological treatise "The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption" was publicly burned by the Massachusetts Bay Colony authorities for heresy, making it one of the first banned books in American history. Pynchon returned to England rather than face further prosecution, but his legacy in Springfield endured through his descendants and the structures they built. Bolen's silver Pynchon House medal represents both local commemorative art and a tangible connection to Springfield's founding. The small number of silver strikings ensured these pieces were destined for the most serious collectors of Bolen's work, and surviving examples are among the most sought-after pieces in any Bolen collection.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings of JAB-39 are rare, limited to 5-15 pieces. Premium composition commands strong collector interest.

Cross References

PCGS #886879; JAB-39 (Silver)