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1858
Pioneer Base Ball Club
Token |
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Item Details |
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CIRCA
- 1861
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MANUFACTURER
- John Bolen
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SIZE
- 1
1/4"
in diameter
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PRICE GUIDE
- $500.00-$1,000.00
Excellent-Near Mint
condition
Information
Provided by:
Keymancollectibles.com
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The 1858 Pioneer Base Ball Club
tokens were made by the famous
19th-century medalist and coin
collector, John Adams Bolen. The White
Metal tokens were minted to 125 pieces,
and 75 were struck in bronze. Possibly the first baseball medal ever
struck. The face of the 1 1/4" Dia.
token features an image of a Base Ball
batter, with "J.A. Bolen" below it.
"Pioneer Base Ball Club" text around
the perimeter followed by 13 stars.
Further text on the back reads,
"Organized April 30, 1858, Play Ground
on Hampden Park, Springfield, Mass."
Crossed bats and ball at the bottom.
The coins were ordered in 1861 by team
Secretary Charles Vinton done in commemoration of the third anniversary
of the formation of the Pioneer Base
Ball Club in Springfield,
Massachusetts, April 30th, 1858. The
medallions were given to team
officials, employees, and players after
defeating the Boston Bowdoins. Team
members took such pride in their medals
that “Ham” Downing had his medal buried
with him.
John Adams Bolen was born in 1826 and
died in 1906. He is best known for his
series of small medals or tokens issued
in the 1860s through
to the 1890s.
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MORE PHOTOS |
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Back of 1858 Pioneer
Base Ball Club Coin
"Organized April 30, 1858, Play Ground on Hampden Park, Springfield,
Mass." |
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KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
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