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1804 Dollar made by John Adams Bolen

ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited June 1, 2021 5:05AM in U.S. Coin Forum

Did John Adams Bolen make a 1804 dollar?

The one Bolen owned has his name stamped on the edge. It was later owned by Miss Ada B. Tingley's grandfather.

Where is this 1804 dollar today?

The following signed letter by John Jay Pittman indicates he examined a dollar owned by John Adams Bolen.

Comments

  • HydrantHydrant Posts: 7,773 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fascinating.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very interesting.... I hope there is more information available, including the negatives/prints he made. Would be great to examine them and understand how he arrived at his conclusions. Cheers, RickO

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 9,966 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 1, 2021 5:15AM

    Very interesting letter. Thanks for sharing. Even though I would never be able to own one, were I rich enough to even consider it, the authentic 1804 dollar produced in 1830 or later by the mint would not have excited me as much as this counterfeit for some reason, as it has some history of people in the time period. Neither this fake nor the original 1804 was made as a coin for use, but purely for the famous and rich only. JMO
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • sellitstoresellitstore Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, interesting, but it's an altered date coin, not a genuine 1804 original or restrike.

    Maybe Bolen executed the alteration, maybe he just owned it, but marking the edge "Bolen" suggests that Bolen didn't want this mistaken for a genuine 1804 dollar.

    Collector and dealer in obsolete currency. Always buying all obsolete bank notes and scrip.
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,625 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Never heard of this coin. With Bolen's name on it it's a mid-four figure item.

  • Aegis3Aegis3 Posts: 2,901 ✭✭✭

    I'm fairly certain Musante referenced it in his work on Bolen. (As an aside, I consider it one of the best-written numismatic references.) I'll try skimming it later.

    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)

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