1876 United States Diplomatic Medal. U.S. Mint Copy Dies by Charles E. Barber. Julian CM-15. Bronze. MS-65 (PCGS).This glorious and rare restrike medals magnificent mahogany-brown surfaces display virtually pristine beauty. One of just a handful struck from dies prepared by Charles E. Barber, copying from cliches of the adopted obverse and unadopted reverse made available to him in 1875. A single silver specimen is recorded in mintage figures for the 1876/77 fiscal year, likely that sent in April 1876 to Professor Jules Marcou, who supplied his original Diplomatic medal cliches to the U.S. Mint to serve as models for Barbers copy dies. According to Mint records, just 65 were struck in bronze from these dies between 1876 and 1904. Originals are impossible for most, making this version very desirable. The Chapmans bitterly called this production a US Mint counterfeit after they failed to sell their original to the Mint Collection. On the other hand, Elizabeth Bryant Johnston, writing in <em>A Visit to the Cabinet of the United States Mint at Philadelphia, 1876</em>, noted, the reproduction by C. Barber is finely executed, and the bronzing exceptionally beautiful. We agree with this assessment, the differences between the original Diplomatic medal design and these Barber-created dies lie mostly in the placement and size of the legends. With just four original Diplomatic medals known (only three in private hands), the chances for the average collector to own one are slim. The Barber copies, of which this is one of the finest certified survivors, are a good replacement. Lesser quality examples of these restrikes have sold in excess of $7,000 at auction. Sure to see spirited bidding.<p>From Presidential Coin & Antique Co., Inc.s sale of the Benjamin Fauver Collection, July 2006, lot 352; our (Stacks) Philadelphia Americana Sale, Part II, September 2009, lot 6177.
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