ENGRAVER JOHN BOLEN'S BRAZIL NUT CARVING

In my haste to type out my Baltimore show report last week, I neglected to mention what I examined at length at the Whitman show - undoubtedly the most intriguing and unusual numismatic-related item I'd seen in ages.

A mint state, superbly engraved huge, approx. 3 1/2" x 2" large Brazil nut on a halved Brazil nut stand. The upper portion exposing the white inner nut "meat" , approx. 2 1/2" x 2" , was a skillfully worked, cut and detailed image of a man's full face with detailed protruding teeth, sad eyes and an expression that initially impressed me as being an "Alice in Wonderland" character in the Disney feature film. The cartoonish facial expression was that close.

Turning the masterpiece of nut-engraving over, I noticed the carved- in signature on its base, a prominent JAB monogram dated 1905. It had been acquired on the bourse floor by New England collector/dealer Howard Barron for a not-inconsequential sum and shown to Bolen cataloguer Neil Musante who had a bourse table. Neil verified it was the known work of engraver John Bolen who died a year after this was carved. Neil said Bolen is known to have done other images on nuts in the last years of his life.

Howard said It was not for sale and he treasured it as did I. Surely one of the most unique numismatic-related items I'd ever seen, one more reason to attend shows.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ALAN WEINBERG'S NOVEMBER 2013 BALTIMORE SHOW REPORT (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n46a20.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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