1896 United States Assay Commission Medal. Silver. 33 mm. By Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan. JK AC-40a. Rarity-5. MS-63 (NGC).Bold olive-gray patina dominates the appearance on both sides of this richly original example. Direct lighting, however, does call forth more vivid undertones of gold, pink, and sea green that are more intense on the reverse. A lustrous and smooth-looking piece that would do nicely in a specialized collection of this series. The mintage for this type in silver is 35 medals delivered during fiscal year 1896, plus a few additional examples produced as late as 1906.From the Newmark Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merenas) Virgil Brand Collection sale, March 1990, lot 29. Lot tag included.
