JAB-11 Washington's Letter to Hamilton - Silver

59mm - 5 Struck

This is Bolen's largest Medal. The dies were cut in 1864. They were sold to Frank S. Edwards in 1865, but are believed to have been ruined by rust before any restrikes were made.

The piece pictured was lot 123 in the Stacks Bowers February 2014 Americana Auction. With Buyer's premuium, it realized $15,275. That was three times what it sold for only a few years earlier. The same example sold a third time for $7637.50 in their August 2016 sale, lot 1080. On the surface, it would appear that someone took a huge shellacking on a piece they owned for only two years. The number of collectors willing to pay five figures for a Medal is very small. Think carefully and do your research before jumping into any collectable purchase of this magnitude.