The January 2012 Americana Sale

Auction # 134 | View Auction Schedule and Details

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Pre-Bidding Ends: 1/25/2012 6:00:00 AM PST
Live Floor and Internet Bidding Begins: 1/25/2012 7:00:00 AM PST

Lot #6067. 1857 James Buchanan. Julian IP-34 var. Bronze. Unc.

Very Rare James Buchanan IPM Muling

Description:

75.7 millimeters. Glossy rich mahogany patina is evenly applied and very attractive. Free of significant spotting or other problems, a nice quality medal despite some minor surface buildup. A very rare die variety, struck from the unsigned reverse intended for Lincoln medals, put into production at the U.S. Mint in 1863. As noted by Michael Hodder in the cataloging of Ford XVIII, "A new die was made in 1863 using Willson's design but omitting his name from the exergue. Lincoln medals were struck from this new die along with a very few special order copper Buchanans." This is one of them. Julian did not mention this muling, Ford never owned one and the Hartzog-Carlson lists of the mid 1980s did not point it out. While esoteric, this represents an extremely elusive variety among one of the most avidly collected Julian series. Were this a Federal coin, it would be worth many multiples of common. A prize for advanced U.S. Mint medal enthusiasts.